National dietary surveys in Europe and the U.S. estimated that the average dietary zinc intake was 9 mg/day for adult women and 13 mg/day for adult men (62, 3).
Infants, children, and pregnant and breast-feeding women are at increased risk of zinc deficiency.
It has been estimated that 82% of pregnant women worldwide are likely to have inadequate zinc intakes.
Zinc intakes from vegetarian diets have been shown to be similar to non-vegetarian diets. However, the dietary requirement for zinc may be as much as 50% greater for vegetarians (63).
Authored by Dr Peter Engel in 2010, reviewed by Giorgio La Fata on 29.09.2017
