Symptomatic Zinc Deficiency in a Full-Term Breast-Fed Infant
June 2010
in “
Dermatology Online Journal
”
TLDR Zinc supplements and weaning cured a breast-fed baby's zinc deficiency caused by a gene mutation.
A nine-month-old breast-fed infant presented with skin eruptions, sparse hair growth, and diarrhea, which were indicative of zinc deficiency (hypozincemia type-II). The condition improved rapidly with zinc supplementation and weaning from breastfeeding, confirming the diagnosis. The study highlighted that a mutation in the zinc transporter gene SLC30A2 (ZnT-2) in mothers could lead to this deficiency in infants. The report emphasized the importance of recognizing and treating zinc deficiency in exclusively breast-fed infants to prevent prolonged morbidity.
