[Current aspects about the role of zinc in nutrition]

The role played by zinc in biology is now better known, and numerous biochemical mechanisms, such as immunity or actions on several hormones and more than 200 enzymes, have proved to be zinc-dependent. Thus, many functions are disturbed when this trace metal is deficient, including, for example, taste and appetite, cell multiplication, growth, pregnancy, fertility, defence against bacteria and brain functions. Zinc intake has been found to be unexcessive and indeed, at the limit of sufficiency in the French population. Groups at risk, such as neonates, growing children, pregnant women and elderly people, should have a higher zinc intake provided by dietary measures or supplementation. Zinc supplementation has been shown to exert a beneficial effect in randomized studies concerning children's growth, acne, old people's immunity or low female fertility. Such supplementation must be balanced and given in moderate doses since zinc interacts with other foodstuffs, and an excess of zinc can be as bad as its deficiency in our nutrition.