Zinc plays an important role in growth and development, intellectual development, immune function, substance metabolism and reproductive function. So, what are the symptoms of zinc deficiency? Under what circumstances will the baby be deficient in zinc? Is zinc deficiency when babies don’t eat? Can micronutrients detect zinc deficiency in babies? What are the symptoms of zinc deficiency? Zinc deficiency will affect the development of various organs in children, including brain development, bone and muscle growth; zinc deficiency will lead to taste disorders, partiality, anorexia or bulimia; zinc deficiency will also lead to dry skin, rashes, poor healing of wounds, recurrent mouth ulcers, weakened immunity, recurrent infections; sexual development or dysfunction; poor cognitive ability, mental depression, mental retardation. Therefore, if your child has any of the above symptoms, parents should consider whether he or she has a zinc deficiency. Take your child to the hospital as soon as possible for a relevant examination, and under the guidance of the doctor to give your child a zinc supplement and other trace elements. It is worth noting that the intake of zinc is not the more the better, excessive intake of zinc, especially long-term consumption of a variety of zinc-fortified foods, may cause acute zinc poisoning, vomiting, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. What makes a baby zinc deficient? Zinc deficiency occurs in infants and children all over the world, and about 25% of the population has high risk factors for zinc deficiency. 1. Poor diet The highest risk group for zinc deficiency is children aged 6-24 months. It is mostly due to improper supplemental food or dietary arrangement. For example, if the child has long been mainly white rice, milk, eggs, meat and other intake is too little, it will lead to insufficient intake of zinc. In general, plant foods, on the other hand, contain low levels of zinc, absorption is easily interfered with by phytic acid, low bioavailability, and long-term vegetarians are at risk of zinc deficiency. 2, diarrhea If the baby has diarrhea for a long time, it is easy to cause zinc malabsorption and zinc deficiency. Diarrhea is not only reduced intestinal zinc absorption, at the same time increased intestinal zinc loss, resulting in zinc deficiency, and zinc deficiency increases intestinal permeability, intestinal damage mucosal recovery is slow, immune function is low, so that diarrhea is not healed and recurring, the formation of a vicious circle. In addition, fever, infection, etc. all make the distribution of zinc in the body abnormal and increase the consumption of zinc, is also one of the causes of zinc deficiency. Therefore, attention should be paid to zinc supplementation during diarrhea, fever and infection should also pay attention to the intake of zinc-rich food, if necessary, at the same time zinc supplementation. Is zinc deficiency a sign that a child is not eating? A child’s diet is not as regular as an adult’s, sometimes more, sometimes less, so not eating occasionally does not mean that he or she is deficient in zinc. If you arrange your child’s diet properly and pay attention to the intake of meat, fish, shrimp, eggs, milk, nuts, etc., he or she is usually not deficient in zinc. If the child’s diet structure is not reasonable, such as eating less milk, eggs, meat, etc., there is partiality or picky eating, there may be a risk of zinc deficiency. Therefore, there are many reasons for refusing to eat, not necessarily zinc deficiency. If a child is developing well, has a generally good appetite and a decent meat intake, zinc deficiency is usually unlikely. Does long-term calcium supplementation affect zinc absorption? Some parents give their children calcium supplements for a long period of time, thinking that it will help them grow taller. However, it is important to note that if your child is not deficient in calcium and you give him or her too much calcium over a long period of time, it may affect the absorption of iron and zinc. However, calcium intake of more than 1,000 milligrams per day affects the absorption of zinc. This is because there is competition and inhibition in the absorption of calcium, iron and zinc. If too much calcium is given, the absorption of iron and zinc may be inhibited. Therefore, children’s nutrition is best met through a sensible diet, and the need for calcium, iron and zinc needs to be reasonably supplemented under the guidance of a doctor.