Causes of zinc deficiency.

The primary causes of zinc deficiency or hypozincemia are the following:

1. Inadequate zinc in the diet.
2. Diseases or conditions that disrupt proper digestion. Diarrhea and malabsorption is one of them.
3. Physiological states such as during pregnancy, or during the early stage of growth of infants and young children, which require increased intake of zinc.
4. Disease in kidney or liver.
5. After undergoing bariatric surgery (removal of parts of the stomach or intestines to induce weight loss).
6. Heavy metal exposure to zinc. For example, people living near zinc smelters.
7. Tartrazine (artificial orange-yellow dye used commonly as food coloring) can disrupt the body's ability to absorb zinc.

Vitamin A and D deficiency. Studies have shown that the body's ability to maintain zinc levels is dependent on A and D vitamins