Zinc is a nutrient that we need to stay healthy. Zinc is found in cells throughout the body. It helps the immune system fight off invading bacteria and viruses. The body also needs zinc to make proteins and DNA. During pregnancy, infancy, and childhood the body needs zinc to grow and develop properly. Zinc also helps wounds to heal and is important for proper senses of taste and smell. Zinc blood tests are primarily ordered to help detect iron deficiency in children and to detect and monitor chronic exposure to lead in adults, as zinc is involved in the chemical process by which our body carries iron via red blood cells. Signs and symptoms of lead poisoning include:
- High blood pressure
- Numbness / tingling in the hands and feet
- Memory loss, mood disorders
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
- Headache
For this reason, it is also common to assess zinc levels when iron deficiency is suspected, symptoms include:
- Chronic fatigue, tiredness
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Headaches
- Pica (cravings for specific substances like chalk, dirt, or clay)
- A burning sensation on the tongue or a smooth tongue
- Sores at the corners of the mouth
- Spoon-shaped fingernails and toenails
What does it mean if your Zinc result is too high?
Elevated Zinc Levels in Blood Tests: Understanding the Implications
Zinc is an essential trace element crucial for various bodily functions, including immune response, wound healing, and DNA synthesis. However, excessive zinc levels in the blood can lead to health complications.
Normal vs. Elevated Zinc Levels
Normal serum zinc levels typically range from 60 to 120 μg/dL (9.2-18.4 μmol/L). Levels above this range are considered elevated, a condition known as hyperzincemia.
Common Causes of Elevated Zinc
- Excessive supplementation: The most frequent cause of hyperzincemia.
- High dietary intake: Overconsumption of zinc-rich foods like oysters, red meat, and fortified cereals.
- Occupational exposure: Working in industries such as metalwork or welding.
- Medical conditions: Certain health issues affecting zinc metabolism or absorption.
Symptoms of Zinc Excess
Elevated zinc levels can manifest through various symptoms:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea and abdominal pain
- Headaches and fatigue
- Metallic taste in the mouth
Chronic zinc excess can lead to copper deficiency, as zinc competes with copper for absorption. This may result in anemia, neutropenia, and neurological symptoms.
Diagnosis and Testing
Diagnosis typically involves:
- Serum or plasma zinc test
- Copper level assessment
- Complete blood count (to check for anemia)
- Liver and kidney function tests
Treatment Approaches
- Discontinue zinc supplements
- Modify diet to reduce zinc intake
- Treat underlying conditions if present
- In severe cases, chelation therapy may be considered
Correlated Markers
While zinc interacts with several other nutrients, the relationships are complex:
- Copper: Zinc excess can induce copper deficiency
- Iron: High zinc may interfere with iron absorption, but the relationship is dose-dependent
- Alkaline Phosphatase: This enzyme is zinc-dependent, but the relationship with serum zinc is not straightforward
- Magnesium: While there's an interaction, the clinical significance of zinc-magnesium balance is still being studied
Key Takeaways
Elevated zinc levels often result from excessive supplementation or dietary intake. While zinc is essential for health, too much can disrupt mineral balance and lead to adverse effects.
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What does it mean if your Zinc result is too low?
Low zinc serum levels can occur due to a variety of factors. These include:
→ Nutritional issues such as a lack of meat intake, which is a rich source of zinc, or a diet high in phytates from legumes, seeds, soy products, and whole grains, or oxalates from spinach, okra, nuts, and tea, which can inhibit zinc absorption. Reduced dietary intake of zinc overall is the most common cause, along with inadequate absorption, increased loss, or increased usage by the body's systems.
→ Chronic illnesses such as kidney disease, liver disease, and alcohol use disorder, as well as malabsorption issues, can lead to zinc deficiency. Stressful severe acute conditions like sepsis, burns, and head injury can also be contributing factors. Additionally, maternal zinc deficiency may cause fetal malformations and low birth weight.
→ Diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, regional enteritis (inflammation of your small intestine), sprue (a disorder in which the intestines are unable to absorb nutrients from food), intestinal bypass, and neoplastic disease (condition that causes tumor growth) can result in low serum zinc.
→ Conditions that involve increased catabolism, like the use of anabolic steroids, as well as anorexia and starvation, can also lead to low zinc levels.
Low zinc serum levels can lead to a range of symptoms, which may include:
Unexplained weight loss, wounds that won't heal, a lack of alertness, a decreased sense of smell and taste, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and open sores on the skin.
Growth impairment, sexual dysfunction, inflammation, gastrointestinal symptoms, or skin involvement.
Appetite loss, slower than expected growth, and poor immune system function. Severe zinc deficiency can exacerbate these conditions.
Delayed wound healing, impaired taste, hair loss, fertility issues, and increased susceptibility to infections.
In both children and adults, symptoms can include hair loss (alopecia), weakened immunity, anorexia, dermatitis, night blindness, anemia, lethargy, and again, delayed wound healing. For pregnant women, zinc deficiency can lead to low birth weight and preterm birth.
These symptoms can vary in severity and may be indicative of underlying health issues that are contributing to the deficiency. It is important for individuals experiencing these symptoms to consult healthcare providers for proper diagnosis and treatment.
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