[Zinc deficiencies in children after discontinuation of breast feeding]

Zinc is a component or activator of many enzymes, especially enzymes participating in biosynthesis processes of nucleic acids and proteins. Thus the role of that microelement in the development of children is very important. The paper discusses clinical pictures of both mild and acute zinc deficiencies. Since the biological availability of zinc is much greater from mother's milk than from cow milk, thus during discontinuation of breast feeding the possibility is to be considered of occurrence of zinc deficiency.