Zinc and spinal cord injury: a review.

Everything that is living needs zinc. Because of its multiple cellular functions, many symptoms and signs have been associated with zinc deficiency in humans including poor wound healing, rashes, diarrhea, decreased sexual function, and growth retardation. These problems are usually caused by other factors and indiscriminate use of zinc supplements is associated with some risk. Because inaccurate diagnosis can prevent alternative appropriate therapy and evidence is lacking that zinc supplementation beyond normal levels is generally beneficial, zinc status should be assayed prior to its administration; serum-zinc levels are the easiest method obtainable. A normal value is strong evidence against zinc deficiency (unless zinc replenishment has just been initiated); a single depressed value, however, may reflect the body's response to stress and not true zinc deficiency. A single low value in an acutely stressed patient should be interpreted with caution and repeated in several days. Symptoms and signs caused by zinc deficiency usually respond to zinc supplementation.