4727.0.55.005 - Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey: Nutrition Results - Food and Nutrients, 2012-13
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 20/03/2015 First Issue
Appendix 1: Example foods in major food groups (Appendix)
The definitions used in this survey are not necessarily identical to those used for similar items in other collections. Additional information is contained in the Australian Health Survey(AHS): Users' Guide, 2011-13 (cat. no. 4363.0.55.001).
24-hour dietary recall
This was the methodology used to collect detailed information on food and nutrient intake. The 24-hour dietary recall collected a list of all foods, beverages and supplements consumed the previous day from midnight to midnight, and the amount consumed. For more information, see the 24-hour Dietary Recall of the AHS: Users' Guide, 2011-13 (cat. no. 4363.0.55.001).
Refers to people who identified themselves, or were identified by another household member, as being of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin.
The term 'alcohol' is commonly used to refer to alcoholic beverages. However, in the 2011-12 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NNPAS), alcohol refers to pure alcohol (or ethanol), which, as a macronutrient, contributes 29 kJ per gram.
The 'Alcoholic beverages' food group includes beers, wines, spirits, cider and other alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic beverages contain more than just alcohol. They range from 2 – 40% alcoholic content.
Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA)
Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA) is a plant-based omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid which is considered a small but important component of dietary intake in relation to helping reduce coronary heart disease risk.
AUSNUT 2011-13
See AUSNUT 2011-13 and also Nutrient Database
Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (AATSIHS)
The Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey 2011-13 is composed of three separate surveys:
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS) 2012-13
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NATSINPAS) 2012-13
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Measures Survey (NATSIHMS) 2012-13.
In addition to this, the AATSIHS Survey contains a Core dataset, which is produced from questions that are common to both the NATSIHS and NATSINPAS. See About the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey for details.
Australian Dietary Guidelines
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines use the best available scientific evidence to provide information on the types and amounts of foods, food groups and dietary patterns that aim to:
·	promote health and wellbeing
·	reduce the risk of diet-related conditions
·	reduce the risk of chronic disease.
The Guidelines are for use by health professionals, policy makers, educators, food manufacturers, food retailers and researchers.
The content of the Australian Dietary Guidelines applies to all healthy Australians, as well as those with common diet-related risk factors such as being overweight. They do not apply to people who need special dietary advice for a medical condition, or to the elderly.
Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the amount of energy needed for a minimal set of functions necessary for life over a defined period of time. BMR is given in kilojoules (kJ) per 24 hours and is calculated using age, sex and weight (kg). For more information, see the Nutrient Intake chapter of the AHS: Users' Guide, 2011-13 (cat. no. 4363.0.55.001).
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity. It is calculated from height and weight information, using the formula weight (kg) divided by the square of height (m). To produce a measure of the prevalence of underweight, normal weight, overweight or obesity in adults, BMI values are grouped according to the table below which allows categories to be reported against both the World Health Organization (WHO) and National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guidelines.
BODY MASS INDEX, Adults
Category Range
Underweight Less than 18.50
Overweight 18.50 — 24.99
Obese 30.00 or more
Separate BMI classifications were produced for children. BMI scores were created in the same manner described above but also took into account the age and sex of the child. There are different cut-offs for BMI categories (underweight/normal combined, overweight or obese) for male and female children. These categories differ to the categories used in the adult BMI classification and follow the scale provided in Cole TJ, Bellizzi MC, Flegal KM and Dietz WH, Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey, BMJ 2000; 320. For a detailed list of the cut-offs used to calculate BMI for children see the AHS: Users' Guide (cat. no. 4363.0.55.001) chapter on Body Mass and Physical Measurements and Appendix 4: Classification of BMI for children.
Calcium is a mineral required for the growth and maintenance of the bones and teeth, as well as the proper functioning of the muscular and cardiovascular systems.
Carbohydrates usually provide the major part of energy in human diets. Carbohydrates are comprised of the elements of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Data for total carbohydrates include starch, sugars and related substances (sugar alcohols and oligosaccharides). Sugar alcohols and oligosaccharides are included in 'Total carbohydrates' but not in starch and sugar sub-totals. Therefore, total carbohydrate does not always equal the the sum of sugars and starch.
Cereal based products and dishes
The 'Cereal based products and dishes' food group contains biscuits, cakes, pastries, pies, dumplings, pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs, and pasta and rice mixed dishes.
The 'Cereals and Cereal Products' food group includes grains, flours, bread and bread rolls, plain pasta, noodles and rice, and breakfast cereals.
Cholesterol is a type of fat and a component of cell membrane.
Confectionery and cereal/nut/fruit/seed bars
The 'Confectionery and cereal/nut/fruit/seed bars' food group includes chocolate, fruit, nut and seed bars and muesli or cereal style bars.
A respondent who reported consumption of any non-zero amount (applies to foods or nutrients).
Day 1 / Day 2 intake
Day 1 intake refers to information collected from the first 24-hour dietary recall, while Day 2 refers to information from the second 24-hour recall. In the 2011-12 NNPAS, Day 1 intake information was collected from all respondents, with a second 24-hour recall (Day 2) collected from around 64% of respondents. Nutrient intakes derived from 24-hour recall data do not represent the usual intake of a person because there is variation in day to day intakes. The second 24-hour recall is used to estimate and remove within-person variation in order to derive a usual nutrient intake distribution for the population. Usual nutrient intakes represent intakes over a long period of time.
Respondents living in remote areas only had one interview.
Dairy & meat substitutes
The 'Dairy & meat substitutes' food group includes milk substitutes, cheese and meat substitutes, soy based ice cream and yoghurts and dishes where meat substitutes are the major components e.g. Tofu curry and Tofu and vegetable curry.
See Australian Dietary Guidelines.
For the purpose of the AHS, dietary supplements refer to products defined as Complementary Medicines under the Therapeutic Goods Regulations 1990 and that are not intended for inhalation or use on the skin. They include products containing ingredients that are nutrients, such as multivitamin or fish oil products.
Discretionary foods
The Australian Dietary Guidelines describes discretionary foods as being: "foods and drinks not necessary to provide the nutrients the body needs, but that may add variety. However, many of these are high in saturated fats, sugars, salt and/or alcohol, and are therefore described as energy dense. They can be included sometimes in small amounts by those who are physically active, but are not a necessary part of the diet". For more information, see the Discretionary Foods chapter of the AHS: Users' Guide, 2011-13 (cat. no. 4363.0.55.001).
Discretionary salt
Discretionary salt is the salt added to food, either at the table or during the cooking/preparation. It does not include salt (or salt containing ingredients) added during manufacturing of processed foods or as required for chemical reasons, for example in bread baking.
Eating occasion
Respondents in the 24-hour dietary recall were asked to state what the eating occasion was for each food consumed, for example breakfast, afternoon tea, dinner.
Egg products and dishes
The 'Egg products and dishes' food group includes eggs and dishes where eggs are the major component e.g. omelettes, frittatas and souffles.
Energy, measured in kilojoules (kJ), is required by the body for metabolic processes, physiological functions, muscular activity, heat production and growth and development. All energy reported in the 2011-12 NNPAS is energy including that from dietary fibre.
Energy Intake to Basal Metabolic Rate Ratio (EI:BMR)
The ratio of energy intake to basal metabolic rate (BMR) is estimated on the basis of weight, age and sex. This ratio has been used to develop cut-off limits for implausibly low intakes. When energy intakes equal energy expenditure, EI:BMR approximates the physical activity level.
Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)
The Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) of a particular nutrient is the level of that nutrient estimated to meet the requirements of the average healthy individual in a particular life stage and gender group. See Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand.
Fat provides a significant amount of dietary energy and is also a carrier for fat-soluble vitamins and the source of essential fatty acids. It is the most energy dense of the macronutrients. The three fatty acid subtotals do not add up to total fat because total fat includes a contribution from the non-fatty acid components.
Fats and Oils
The 'Fats and Oils' group includes butters, dairy blends, margarines and other fats, such as animal-based fats.
Fatty acids are units of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen which combine with glycerine to form fat. Most foods contain a mixture of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids.
Fish and seafood products and dishes
The 'Fish and seafood products and dishes' food group includes fresh and tinned seafood, shellfish and mixed dishes with fish or seafood as the main component e.g. salmon mornay, fish curry and prawn cocktail.
In this publication, folate refers specifically to the naturally-occurring form of folate (tetrahydrofolate or THF).
Folate Equivalents
Folate is a B group vitamin that is essential for healthy growth and development, which is important during pregnancy to help prevent the incidence of neural tube defects (such as spina bifida) in babies. Folate intake is measured in folate equivalents to take into account the higher bioavailability of folic acid (pteroyl glutamic acid, or PGA, the form used in food fortification and supplements) than natural folate (tetrahydrofolate, or THF, the form found in foods and in the body). Folate equivalents = 1.67*folic acid + natural folate.
Folate (Total)
Total folate includes both folic acid (pteroyl glutamic acid, or PGA) and its derivatives (tetrahydrofolate, or THF, the naturally-occuring forms of folate), all of which have similar functions in the body. Total folate is calculated as the sum of folic acid and folate, without any adjustment for their differing bioavailabilities.
Folic acid (pteroyl glutamic acid, or PGA) is the form of folate used in dietary supplements and for food fortification as it is more stable and bioavailable than the naturally-occurring forms in foods. As of 2009, all bread making flour is fortified with folic acid.
Food classification or Food groups
Food and beverages reported by respondents in the 24-hour dietary recall were collected and coded at a detailed level, but for output purposes are categorised within a food classification with Major (2-digit), Sub-major (3-digit), and Minor group (5-digit) levels. The classification was developed by Food Standards Australia New Zealand, along with the Nutrient Database, specifically for the Australian Health Survey. At the broadest level (the Major group) there are 24 groups. These groups were designed to categorise foods that share a major component or common feature. Because many foods are in fact mixtures of different ingredients, the food groups will not exclusively contain the main food of that group.
Fortification refers to adding vitamins and minerals to food. When there is determined to be a significant public health need, food manufacturers may be required to add certain vitamins or minerals to specified foods (mandatory fortification). In Australia, mandatory fortification of foods includes iodised salt used in all bread, thiamin and folic acid added to wheat flour for baking bread, and vitamin D added to edible oil spreads such as margarine. See Food Standards Australia New Zealand: Fortification.
Fruit products and dishes
The 'Fruit products and dishes' food group includes fresh, dried and preserved fruit, as well as mixed dishes where fruit is the major component, for example apple crumble or banana split.
Health risk factors
Specific lifestyle and related factors impacting on health, including:
tobacco smoking
physical inactivity
body mass
dietary behaviour
blood pressure.
Intense sweetener
Intense sweeteners are added to food to provide sweetness without contributing significantly to the energy level (kilojoules). These food additives are substituted for sugar in some foods and beverages as a way to lower the kilojoule or carbohydrate level.
Iodine is a nutrient essential for the production of thyroid hormones, which are essential for normal growth and development, particularly of the brain. Since October 2009, regulations have required that salt with added iodine (iodised salt) be used in all bread (except organic bread and bread mixes for making bread at home) in Australia.
Infant formulae and foods
The 'Infant formulae and foods' food group includes infant formulae, and infant cereal, food and drink products
Iron is a mineral essential for the oxygen carrying ability of red blood cells.
Linoleic Acid
Linoleic acid is a particular type of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid associated with blood lipid profiles seen as having a lower risk of coronary heart disease.
Legume and pulse products and dishes
The 'Legume and pulse products and dishes' food group includes legumes and pulses e.g. baked beans, chickpeas, split peas, lentils and dishes where legumes are the major component, for example dhal and falafel.
Major food group
The Major food group is the broadest level classification for food consumption data (i.e. 2-digit level). The food classification is available in Excel spreadsheet format in the Downloads page of of the AHS: Users' Guide, 2011-13 (cat. no. 4363.0.55.001).
Margin of Error (MoE)
Margin of Error describes the distance from the population value that the sample estimate is likely to be within, and is specified at a given level of confidence. Confidence levels typically used are 90%, 95% and 99%. For example, at the 95% confidence level the MoE indicates that there are about 19 chances in 20 that the estimate will differ by less than the specified MoE from the population value (the figure obtained if the entire population had been enumerated). In this publication, MoE has only been provided for the proportions and averages tables. For more information see the Technical notes of this publication.
The mean is the sum of the value of each observation in a dataset divided by the number of observations. This is also known as the arithmetic average. In this release, mean usual intakes for each age by sex group are calculated from the distribution of usual nutrient intakes individual intakes (the observations) simulated by the NCI method.
Meat, poultry and games products and dishes
The 'Meat, poultry and games products and dishes' food group includes beef, sheep, pork, poultry, sausages, processed meat (e.g. salami) and mixed dishes where meat or poultry is the major component e.g. casseroles, curried sausages and chicken stir-fry.
The median is the middle value in a set of observations. In this release, median usual intakes for each age and sex group are shown as the 50th percentile of the range of observations simulated by the NCI method.
Milk products and dishes
The 'Milk products and dishes' food group includes milk, yoghurt, cream, cheese, custards, ice cream, milk shakes, smoothies and dishes where milk is the major component e.g. cheesecake, rice pudding and creme brulee.
Minor food group
The minor food group is the most detailed level (5-digit level) group in the classification for food consumption data. The food classification is available in Excel spreadsheet format in the Downloads page of of the AHS Users' Guide, 2011-13 (cat. no. 4363.0.55.001).
Miscellaneous food group
The 'Miscellaneous' food group includes yeast, and spreadable yeast extract, intense sweeteners, herbs, spices and seasonings.
Monounsaturated fat or monounsaturated fatty acids are a type of fat predominantly found in plant-based foods, although there are exceptions.
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NATSINPAS)
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey focused on collecting information on:
dietary behaviour and food avoidance (including 24-hour dietary recall)
selected medical conditions that had lasted, or were expected to last for six months or more
cardiovascular and circulatory conditions
diabetes and high sugar levels
female life stages
physical activity and sedentary behaviour (including 8 day pedometer component)
use of tobacco
physical measurements (height, weight and waist circumference).
The 'Non-alcoholic beverages' food group includes tea, coffee, juices, cordials, soft drinks, energy drinks and water.
Non-Indigenous people
This term refers to the population of Australian people who did not identify themselves as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
Normal weight
See Body Mass Index (BMI).
Nutrient Database
The Nutrient Database used to derive energy and nutrient estimates for the 24-hour dietary recall data was developed by Food Standards Australia New Zealand. See AUSNUT 2011-13
Percentage contribution to energy intake
This refers to the proportion of energy that a food or macronutrient contributes to each person's total energy intake. The energy from each of these nutrients was estimated by multiplying each gram of a particular nutrient by a conversion factor to determine the kilojoules (kJ) of energy. For more information, see the Nutrient Intake chapter of the AHS: Users' Guide, 2011-13 (cat. no. 4363.0.55.001).
Polyunsaturated fat or polyunsaturated fatty acids are a type of fat predominantly found in plant-based foods, although there are exceptions. Linoleic acid, alpha linolenic acid, long chain omega 3 fatty acids, and other polyunsaturated fatty acids are included in the polyunsaturated fatty acid total.
Preformed Vitamin A
Preformed vitamin A or retinol is the form of vitamin A found in animal-derived food, such as meat, dairy products, and eggs.
Protein supplies essential amino acids and is also a source of energy. Protein can be supplied from animal or vegetable matter, though individual vegetable proteins do not contain all the essential amino acids required by the body. They may be limited in one of these essential amino acids.
Pro Vitamin A
Pro vitamin A is the form of vitamin A found predominantly in dark green and orange vegetables. Where information on levels of carotenes other than beta carotene in foods was available, this has been included in the pro vitamin A total as beta carotene equivalents, according to the equation pro vitamin A = beta carotene + 0.5*alpha carotene + 0.5*cryptoxanthin. This equation takes into account the differing biological activities of the different forms of pro vitamin A.
Recommended usual daily intake of fruit
The National Health and Medical Research Council recommend levels of daily fruit intake to ensure good nutrition and health. Fruit intake has been grouped in the table below to allow results to be reported against the 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines. A serve is approximately 150 grams of fresh fruit, half a cup of fruit juice (no added sugar) or 30 grams of dried fruit.*
RECOMMENDED DAILY SERVES OF FRUIT, by age
Age Fruit (serves)
2-3 years 1
4-8 years 1.5
12-13 years 2
70+ years 2
*Note, while the NHMRC 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines allow fruit juice to be used occasionally as one of the daily serves of fruit, the AHS only collected usual serves of fruit (excluding juice).
Recommended usual daily intake of vegetables
The National Health and Medical Research Council recommend levels of daily vegetable intake to ensure good nutrition and health. Vegetable intake has been grouped in the table below to allow results to be reported against the 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines. A serve is approximately half a cup of cooked vegetables or legumes/beans or one cup of salad vegetables - equivalent to around 75 grams.*
RECOMMENDED DAILY SERVES OF VEGETABLES, by age
Age Vegetables for males Vegetables for females
2-3 years 2.5 2.5
9-11 years 5 5
12-13 years 5.5 5
19-50 years 6 5**
70+ years 5 5
*Note, while the Australian Dietary Guidelines include servings of legumes and beans in the recommendations for vegetable intake, the AHS only collected usual serves of vegetables (excluding legumes).
**Note, the recommended usual intake of vegetables for breastfeeding women is 7.5 serves and for pregnant women is 5 serves, however these population groups have not been separated in the nutrient data output.
Relative Standard Error (RSE)
The standard error expressed as a percentage of the estimate. For more information see the Technical notes in this publication.
Remoteness
The Remoteness Structure for the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) 2011, has five categories based on an aggregation of geographical areas which share common characteristics of remoteness, determined in the context of Australia as a whole. These categories are:
Major cities of Australia
Inner regional Australia
Outer regional Australia
Remote Australia
Very remote Australia
The five categories are generally aggregated in some way for use in output. For this publication, the first three categories represent non-remote areas and the last two represent remote areas.
The 2011 Remoteness Structure has been built using the same principles as the 2006 Remoteness Structure. The primary difference is that it was built from ASGS Statistical Area Level 1 (SA1) regions rather than from 2006 Census Collection Districts (CCD).
The criteria for these categories are based on the Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA). ARIA measures the remoteness of a point based on the physical road distance to the nearest Urban Centre in each of five size classes. For more information on how ARIA is defined see Information Paper: ABS Views on Remoteness, 2001 (cat. no. 1244.0) and Information Paper: Outcomes of ABS Views on Remoteness Consultation, Australia, Jun 2001 (cat. no. 1244.0.00.001). Also refer to Census Geography Paper 03/01 - ASGC Remoteness Classification - Purpose and Use, available from the ABS web site.
Reptiles, amphibia and insects
The "Reptiles, amphibia and insects' food group includes Crocodile, Goanna, Turtle and insects.
Saturated fat or saturated fatty acids are a type of fat predominantly found in animal-based foods, although there are exceptions. Saturated fat is the total of all saturated fatty acids, that is all fatty acids without any double bonds.
Savoury sauces and condiments
The 'Savoury sauces and condiments' food group includes gravies and sauces, pickles, chutneys and relishes, salad dressings, stuffings and dips.
Seed and nut products and dishes
The 'Seed and nut products and dishes' food group includes seeds and seed products, and nuts and nut products
The 'Snack foods' food group includes potato chips, popcorn, corn chips, cheese and bacon balls and pretzels.
Sodium occurs in a number of different forms but is generally consumed as sodium chloride (commonly known as 'salt').
The 'Soup' food group includes homemade, dry and canned soups as well as soups purchased ready to eat.
Special dietary foods
The 'Special dietary foods' food group includes formula dietary foods e.g. protein powders, meal replacement shakes and meal replacement bars.
Sub-major food group
The Sub-major food group is the second level (i.e. 3-digit level) of the classification for the food consumption data. The food classification is available in Excel spreadsheet format in the Downloads page of the AHS: Users' Guide, 2011-13 (cat. no. 4363.0.55.001).
Sugar products and dishes
The 'Sugar products and dishes' food group includes sugar, honey, syrups, jam, chocolate spreads and sauces and dishes and products other than confectionery where sugar is the major component e.g. pavlova and meringue.
Thiamin is a B group vitamin that helps the body to convert food to energy for the brain, nervous system and muscles. Wheat flour for bread making is fortified with thiamin in Australia.
Total Long Chain Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Long chain omega 3 fatty acids are a particular type of omega 3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentanoic acid, and docosahaexanoic acid) with cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory benefits. They are found in fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, tuna and herring.
Under-reporting
Under-reporting refers to the tendency (bias) of respondents to underestimate their food intake in self-reported dietary surveys. It includes actual changes in foods eaten because people know they will be asked about them, and misrepresentation (deliberate, unconscious or accidental), e.g. to make their diets appear more 'healthy' or be quicker to report.
Underweight
Upper Level of Intake (UL)
The Upper Level of Intake (UL) of a nutrient is the highest average daily intake level that is likely to pose no adverse health effects. Nutrient intakes above the UL have a potentially increased risk of adverse effects. See Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand.
Usual Intakes
Usual intakes represent food and nutrient intake over a long period of time. For a single person, dietary intake varies day to day. A single 24-hour dietary recall does not represent the usual, or long term, intake of a person because of this variation. In the 2011-12 NNPAS, all respondents were asked for follow-up contact phone details in order to conduct a second 24-hour recall over the phone at least 8 days later. A second 24-hour recall was collected from about 64% of respondents. The second 24-hour recall is used to estimate and remove within-person variation in order to derive a usual nutrient intake distribution for the population.
Vegetable products and dishes
The 'Vegetable products and dishes' food group includes vegetables and dishes where vegetables are the major component. e.g. salad or vegetable casserole.
Vitamin A retinol equivalent
Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin which helps maintain normal reproduction, vision, and immune function. Vitamin A intake is measured in retinol equivalents to reflect the contribution of pro vitamin A and preformed vitamin A, using the equation: vitamin A retinol equivalent = retinol + beta carotene/6 + alpha carotene/12 + cryptoxanthin/12. The equation takes into account the differing biological activities of the different forms of vitamin A.
Vitamin B6 is involved in the metabolism of amino acids, glycogen and sphingoid bases, where it functions as a coenzyme. Dietary sources come from a wide range of foods including organ and muscle meats, breakfast cereals, vegetables, and fruits.
Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, has a key role in the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system, and the formation of blood. Almost all vitamin B12 comes from animal foods, such as meat and dairy products, although some is added to some plant-based foods such as vegetarian meat replacements.
Vitamin C is commonly found in fruits and vegetables and refers to compounds with antiscorbutic activity and antioxidant properties.
Vitamin E refers to a group of compounds called tocopherols and tocotrienols. It prevents the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, acting as an antioxidant in the lipid phase of cell membranes.
Vitamins are organic compounds found naturally in food and are either fat or water soluble. They are required in small amounts. Vitamins enable the human body to function efficiently by regulating biochemical processes such as growth metabolism, cell reproduction, digestion, and oxidation of the blood.
Zinc is a mineral required for the function of many enzymes and has a role in protein and DNA synthesis. It is widely present in foods, in particular meat, seafood and poultry.
This page last updated 26 March 2015