Zinc is an important nutrient that is essential for a wide variety of cellular processes in all cells. It is a vital dietary nutrient, predominantly in the early stages of life. In the primary neonatal period, sufficient sources of zinc can be acquired through breast milk. In very rare circumstances, the mammary gland might produce zinc deficient milk, which could be potentially lethal for exclusively breast-fed infants. This deficiency could be overcome by supplementation of zinc to the infant. Modifications to key zinc transporters can provide insights about the mechanisms of cellular zinc homeostasis. The bioavailability of zinc in food also depends on the existence of constituents that might complex zinc. In several countries, deficiency of zinc is a main health issue because of poor nourishment, thus young children are chiefly affected. Deficiency of zinc can impair the immune function and can also contribute to the overall burden of infectious diseases that includes diarrhea, pneumonia and malaria. Moreover, zinc deficiency can extend its influence through generations by stimulating epigenetic effects altering the gene expression.

Source: Ackland ML, Michalczyk AA. Zinc and infant nutrition. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2016;611:51-57. doi:10.1016/j.abb.2016.06.011