title: Zinc Deficiency in Latin America and the Caribbean.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Zinc deficiency affects multiple vital functions in the life cycle, especially growth. Limited information is available on the magnitude of zinc deficiency in Latin America and the Caribbean.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the latest available information on both the prevalence of zinc deficiency and the risk of zinc deficiency in Latin America and the Caribbean.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prevalence of zinc deficiency was identified through a systematic review looking for the latest available data on serum zinc concentrations from surveys or studies with national representativeness conducted in Latin America and the Caribbean. The risk of zinc deficiency in Latin America and the Caribbean was estimated based on dietary zinc inadequacy (according to the 2011 National Food Balance Sheets) and stunting in children under 5 years of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only four countries had available national biochemical data. Mexican, Colombian, Ecuadorian, and Guatemalan children under 6 years of age and women 12 to 49 years of age had a high prevalence of zinc deficiency (19.1% to 56.3%). The countries with the highest risk of zinc deficiency (estimated prevalence of inadequate zinc intake > 25% plus prevalence of stunting > 20%) were Belize, Bolivia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Zinc dietary inadequacy was directly correlated with stunting (r = 0.64, p < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence data from the four available Latin America and Caribbean national surveys indicate a high prevalence of zinc deficiency in children under 6 years of age and women 12 to 49 years of age. High rates of both estimated zinc dietary inadequacy and stunting were also reported in most Latin America and Caribbean countries.
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cediel
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olivares
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.forename: Héctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cori
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: López de Romaña
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001531:Belize / Q000453:epidemiology; D001838:Bolivia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004032:Diet; D004484:Ecuador / Q000453:epidemiology; D004544:El Salvador / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006166:Guatemala / Q000453:epidemiology; D006205:Haiti / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006721:Honduras / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009527:Nicaragua / Q000453:epidemiology; D009752:Nutritional Status; D019436:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency*
chemical_list: D015032:Zinc