title: Zinc content and the zinc-to-calorie ratio of weighed diets.
abstract: The zinc content of weighed, self-selected diets of high school girls and college women varied widely. A majority of the diets contained less than the 15-mg. recommended allowance for zinc and a significant number provided less than two-thirds of the allowance. Approximately one-third of thirty diets planned and prepared for a metabolic study contained less than 10 mg. zinc. The zinc content of the metabolic diets appeared to reflect the kind of meat included. Zinc-to-calorie ratios of the self-selected diets were 8.6 and 8.8 mg. per 1,000 kcal for high school girls and college women, respectively. The metabolic diets provided a mean of 6.6 mg. zinc per 1,000 kcal. Consideration of the energy values and the zinc-to-calorie ratios of these diets suggests that energy restriction and choice of foods are important factors contributing to zinc intakes below the recommended amount.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004032:Diet; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D005504:Food Analysis; D006801:Humans; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D014481:United States; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis* / Q000172:deficiency
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D015032:Zinc