7.7.2 Addressing zinc deficiency
Exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life should be supported because breastmilk is an excellent source of zinc. For young children, complementary feeding practices should be implemented with zinc-rich foods, such as animal source foods, and zinc-fortified complementary foods. The table below shows food sources with different levels of zinc content.
| Zinc content | Types of food |
|---|---|
| Foods that provide the highest concentrations of zinc | Lean red meat, whole-grain cereals, pulses and legumes |
| Food sources with moderate zinc content | Processed cereals with low extraction rates, polished rice, and chicken, pork or meat with high fat content |
| Foods with small amount of zinc | Fish, roots and tubers, green leafy vegetables and fruits are only modest sources of zinc |
| Foods with very low zinc content | Saturated fats and oils, sugar, and alcohol |
Opportunities to improve zinc status should be considered in the context of ongoing general health and nutrition programme such as growth monitoring programmes, diarrhoea treatment facilities, integrated management of childhood illnesses (IMCI) interventions and national fortification programmes.
Back to previous pagePrevious
7.7.1 Zinc deficiency and the Millennium Development Goals