Abstract
In recent years, the number of patients visiting outpatient clinics with complaints of abnormal sense of taste and/or olfaction has been on the increase. It has been estimated that about 30% of these patients may have dietary zinc deficiency. This deficiency is more likely to develop among children whose the daily requirement of zinc is greater, among elderly people whose dietary consumption of nutrients is poor and among young women who are often on diets for weight reduction. Zinc deficiency may be associated with a variety of features such as hypogeusia, hyposmia, growth retardation, dermatitis, alopecia, compromised gonadal functions, susceptibility to infections and delayed wound healing. This manuscript reviews zinc physiology (distribution in the body, absorption, transport, metabolism and excretion, physiological functions and factors causing changes in the serum level) and zinc supplementary therapy for better understanding of the clinical features of zinc deficiency.
