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The findings demonstrate that low zinc intake or marginal zinc deficiency significantly lowers the absorption of beta-carotene as estimated by lymphatic retinol output.
Zinc supplementation can also alleviate the degree of mucositis and dermatitis.
Therefore, the observed change in mRNA for serum retinol-binding protein was apparently at least in part due to the inanition that accompanies zinc deficiency.
While lack of response in serum retinol may be explained by generally adequate status, the lack of impact on zinc status requires further exploration.
Zinc absorption in humans could be improved by zinc complexation with gluconate.
This may provide a possible explanation for the documented nutritional interactions between zinc and retinol.
Journal ArticleDOI
Marta Ugarte, Neville N. Osborne 
147 Citations
Use of zinc supplements in diet must, therefore, be taken with caution.
Mass fortification of zinc may be a cost-effective strategy to overcome zinc deficiency.

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