Review on the Problem of Zinc Defficiency, Program Prevention and Its Prospect

Among of the micronutrient defficiency, zinc deficiency do not get proper priorities yet or neglegted. This situation is due to the relatively limited availability of data related to zinc defficiency, and broader of functional consequencies of zinc defficiency. In developed countries, studies on zinc defficiency has started almost since half century ago, however in Indonesia this study started since 20-30 years ago. This paper review the problem of zinc defficiency, effort to prevent and its prospect. Zinc has many functions in the body, involves in more than 300 enzyme, so the manifestation of zinc defficiency also varied and sometimes not specific. The parameter for determination of zinc status of the body also varied, so comparing the prevalence of zinc defficiency from different study should be more careful, because there is no consecus on the parameter yet. The prevalence of zinc defficiency ranges from 10% - 90%: the different parameter used in each study affecting the prevalence. Diet of middle low community usually plant based diet, which poor zinc content and high content of inhibitor for zinc absorbtion. On the other hand high prevalence of diarrhea also affect the losses of zinc. Consumption of red meat which rich in zinc usually also low in the middle low community. The possible and feasible program for preventing zinc defficiency are: food supplementation, fortification, biofortification, zinc firtilization in the agronomic, and nutrition education