Topical zinc and delayed hypersensitivity responsiveness.

The ability of topical zinc to enhance the DHR to skin test antigens may be a simple method of evaluating functional zinc status. Additional testing is required to determine the sensitivity and specificity of this technique. In addition to zinc, other nutrient deficiencies such as protein deficiency may suppress DHR. Because of this and because of the variability among individuals in degree of reactiveness, each patient should serve as his/her own control, with zinc-treated and nontreated skin test sites being evaluated simultaneously.