Zinc deficiency

People with zinc deficiency should be monitored every 1 to 3 months to ensure that manifestations resolve and serum zinc levels normalize with supplementation. Once zinc status has normalized, patients with ongoing risk factors should be monitored every 12 months, or sooner if symptoms recur. It is important to recognize that zinc deficiency rarely occurs in isolation, and other vitamin deficiencies should be regularly assessed. For people taking more than 40 mg of zinc orally per day, toxicity is possible and serum zinc levels should be checked every 3 to 6 months.