Recommended zinc intake for the first six months of life

Abstract

This paper suggests that recommended zinc intake for the 0–6 months age group is grossly overestimated and impossible to achieve by wholly breast-fed infants. This discrepancy may be explained by the high zinc concentrations in human milk considered by the National Research Council to establish the present RDA. An alternative approach based on absorbed amounts of zinc required is proposed. This method appears to be closer to the real needs of young infants; thus, for the first three months, 0.64 mg/day and for the second three months, 0.90 mg/day would be required to meet the proposed absorbed zinc needs.