Acquired Zinc Deficiency

Abstract

A patient given long-term total parenteral nutrition acquired a zinc deficiency severe enough to cause typical cutaneous manifestations of acrodermatitis enteropathica. This report, the first detailed one, to our knowledge, of such an association, adds to the accumulating evidence that supplementation of trace elements is needed in long-term parenteral nutrition. (JAMA235:2399-2402, 1976)