Zinc Deficiency in Agricultural Systems and Its Implication to Human Health

Abstract

There are more than 3 billion world population are directly or indirectly affected with low zinc (Zn) supply to their food causing up to severe health problems, which is also linked to Zn deficiency in most agricultural soils world-wide. Agricultural technologies contribute to improving nutritionally rich food systems, which plays key role in public health. We therefore review in this paper on the importance of agricultural systems and its role in human health under Zn deficient situation. Several studies have been done to understand the Zn dynamics on crop and plants. There have been much more efforts given to see agronomic, physiological and molecular aspects of Zn in plants and soils. It is however, equally important to look at the human consumption perspective for healthy population. Therefore, this review discusses the role of Zn on soil and crop in view of human nutrition. Agricultural strategies could help to combat such problems in many ways such as breeding Zn efficient genotypes, application of different Zn fertilizers, using high Zn content seed for crop production; and seed priming. The content of Zn in grains and fruits can in some cases be increased through soil or foliar applications of Zn fertilizers. Level of Zn in plant foods could be achieved either by increasing the concentration of compounds which promote their uptake like ascorbic acid, or by decreasing the concentration of compounds which inhibit their absorption of Zn like phytic acid or phenolic compounds. Low cost and easy approaches such as seed priming are also effective measures to load higher Zn in edible parts. Plant breeding and genetic engineering techniques have the greatest potential to increase Zn content in grains, roots and tubers to combat the Zn deficiency world-wide.