Dietary<unk> <unk>  can be caused by a diet high in phytate-containing whole grains, foods grown in zinc deficient soil, or processed foods containing little or no zinc. Conservative estimates suggest that 25% of the world's population is at risk of<unk> . In the U.S., the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is 8 mg/day for women and 11 mg/day for men. RDA for pregnancy is 11 mg/day. RDA for lactation is 12 mg/day. For infants up to 12 months the RDA is 3 mg/day. For children ages 1–13 years the RDA increases with age from 3 to 8 mg/day. The following table summarizes most of the foods with significant quantities of zinc, listed in order of quantity per serving, unfortified. Note that all of the top 10 entries are meat, beans, or nuts. Food mg in one serving Percentage of 11 mg recommended daily intake Oysters, cooked, breaded and fried, 3 ounces (85g) (about 5 average sized oysters) 74.0 673% Beef chuck roast, braised, 3 ounces (85g) 7.0 64% Crab, Alaska king, cooked, 3 ounces (85g) 6.5 59% Beef patty, broiled, 3 ounces (85g) 5.3 48% Cashews, dry roasted, 3 ounces (85g) 4.8 44% Lobster, cooked, 3 ounces (85g) 3.4 31% Pork chop, loin, cooked, 3 ounces (85g) 2.9 26% Baked beans, canned, plain or vegetarian, ½ cup 2.9 26% Almonds, dry roasted, 3 ounces (85g) 2.7 25% Chicken, dark meat, cooked, 3 ounces (85g) 2.4 22% Yogurt, fruit, low fat, 8 ounces (230g) 1.7 15% Shredded wheat, unfortified, 1 cup 1.5 14% Chickpeas, cooked, ½ cup 1.3 12% Cheese, Swiss, 1 ounce (28g) 1.2 11% Oatmeal, instant, plain, prepared with water, 1 packet 1.1 10% Milk, low-fat or non-fat, 1 cup 1.0 9% Kidney beans, cooked, ½ cup 0.9 8% Chicken breast, roasted, skin removed, ½ breast 0.9 8% Cheese, cheddar or mozzarella, 1 ounce (28g) 0.9 8% Peas, green, frozen, cooked, ½ cup 0.5 5% Flounder or sole, cooked, 3 ounces (85g) 0.3 3% Recent research findings suggest that increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations will exacerbate<unk>  problems in populations that consume grains and legumes as staple foods. A meta-analysis of data from 143 studies comparing the nutrient content of grasses and legumes grown in ambient and elevated CO2 environments found that the edible portions of wheat, rice, peas and soybeans grown in elevated CO2 contained less zinc and iron. Global atmospheric CO2 concentration is expected to reach 550 p.p.m. in the late 21st century. At this CO2 level the zinc content of these crops was 3.3 to 9.3% lower than that of crops grown in the present atmosphere. A model of the nutritional impact of these lower zinc quantities on the populations of 151 countries predicts that an additional 175 million people could face dietary<unk>  as the result of increasing atmospheric CO2. Inadequate absorption Acrodermatitis enteropathica is an inherited<unk>  of the zinc carrier protein ZIP4 resulting in inadequate zinc absorption. It presents as growth retardation, severe diarrhea, hair loss, skin rash (most often around the genitalia and mouth) and opportunistic candidiasis and bacterial infections. Numerous small bowel diseases which cause destruction or malfunction of the gut mucosa enterocytes and generalized malabsorption are associated with<unk> . Increased loss Exercising, high alcohol intake, and diarrhea all increase loss of zinc from the body. Changes in intestinal tract absorbability and permeability due, in part, to viral, protozoal, or bacteria pathogens may also encourage fecal losses of zinc. Chronic disease The mechanism of<unk>  in some diseases has not been well defined; it may be multifactorial. Wilson's disease, sickle cell disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease have all been associated with<unk> . It can also occur after bariatric surgery, mercury exposure and tartrazine. Although marginal<unk>  is often found in depression, low zinc levels could either be a cause or a consequence of mental disorders and their symptoms.
Zinc deficiency
Zinc toxicity
Manganese deficiency 
Boron deficiency 
Lead poisoning
Iron deficiency
Selenium deficiency
Copper deficiency