There is a range of effects that signal zinc deficiency such as retardation of growth in children, male reproduction, low blood sugar, poor bone growth, brain disorders, high blood cholesterol, poor circulation, eating disorders, problems with female reproduction, poor skin, nails and hair conditions and poor sense of taste and smell.

Zinc is vital for healthy growth; dwarfism, stunted growth and being underweight for their age may occur in children if there diet is deficient in zinc.

Zinc is essential for sexual reproduction and development. Sperm needs zinc to function properly; any deficiency in zinc will affect fertility. Deficiency in zinc interferes with the cell division in sperm. Young boys going through puberty need higher levels of zinc to develop healthy reproductive organs. Any deficiency of zinc and the body will draw it from other areas such as the brain which could then lend to learning problems through puberty.

The prostate gland has the highest concentration of zinc in the body. The lack of zinc in older men has been linked to inflammation of the prostate gland known as prostatitis.

Zinc helps in the way the body regulates the high and lows of blood sugar level and it has been linked to help people who have hypoglycaemia. The deficiency of zinc has an effect on circulation; it has been linked to cold hands and feet and high blood pressure. Cholesterol in the blood has a tendency to rise if there is a deficiency of zinc in the body.

Painful hip and knee joints have been linked to zinc deficiency, this is because the bones contain a large amount of zinc and any deficiency will cause them to become thicker and shorter causing pain and other symptoms. Also the body