Conclusions of the Joint WHO/UNICEF/IAEA/IZiNCG Interagency Meeting on Zinc Status Indicators

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dc.creatorDe Benoist, Bruno
dc.creatorDarnton-Hill, I.
dc.creatorDavidsson, L.
dc.creatorFontaine Olivier
dc.creatorHotz, Christine
dc.date2007-09
dc.date2025-01-29T12:58:53Z
dc.date2025-01-29T12:58:53Z
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-27T15:47:05Z
dc.descriptionZinc deficiency is an important cause of morbidity in developing countries, particularly among young children, yet little information is available on the global prevalence of zinc deficiency. A working group meeting was convened by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the International Zinc Nutrition Consultative Group (IZiNCG) to review methods of assessing population zinc status and provide standard recommendations for the use of specific biochemical, dietary, and functional indicators of zinc status in populations. The recommended biochemical indicator is the prevalence of serum zinc concentration less than the age/sex/time of day-specific cutoffs; when the prevalence is greater than 20%, intervention to improve zinc status is recommended. For dietary indicators, the prevalence (or probability) of zinc intakes below the appropriate estimated average requirement (EAR) should be used, as determined from quantitative dietary intake assessments. Where the prevalence of inadequate intakes of zinc is greater than 25%, the risk of zinc deficiency is considered to be elevated. Previous studies indicate that stunted children respond to zinc supplementation with increased growth. When the prevalence of low height-for-age is 20% or more, the prevalence of zinc deficiency may also be elevated. Ideally, all three types of indicators would be used together to obtain the best estimate of the risk of zinc deficiency in a population and to identify specific subgroups with elevated risk. These recommended indicators should be applied for national assessment of zinc status and to indicate the need for zinc interventions. The prevalence of low serum zinc and inadequate zinc intakes may be used to evaluate their impact on the target population’s zinc status.
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/171867
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/114529
dc.languageen
dc.publisherSAGE Publications
dc.rightsLimited Access
dc.sourceDe Benoist, Bruno; Darnton-Hill, I.; Davidsson, L.; Fontaine Olivier; Hotz, Christine. 2007. Conclusions of the Joint WHO/UNICEF/IAEA/IZiNCG Interagency Meeting on Zinc Status Indicators. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 28(3): S480-S484. https://doi.org/10.1177/15648265070283s306
dc.subjectzinc
dc.subjectnutrition
dc.subjectwho
dc.subjectunicef
dc.titleConclusions of the Joint WHO/UNICEF/IAEA/IZiNCG Interagency Meeting on Zinc Status Indicators
dc.typeJournal Article

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Instituto Internacional de Investigación sobre Políticas Alimentarias (IFPRI)