The mineral Zinc is present in every part of the body and has a wide range of functions. Severe deficiency of zinc causes skin lesions, alopecia, diarrhoea, increased susceptibility to infections and failure to thrive in children. Symptoms of less severe deficiency include distorted or absent perceptions of taste and smell and poor wound healing. Zinc supplementation has been shown to improve cell-mediated immunity. Zinc is also an antioxidant