Assessment of dietary zinc ingestion in Pakistan

Zinc concentration was determined in the Pakistani diet with the use of instrumental neutron activation analysis. It varied from 12.94 to 37.77 μg/g, with an average value of 22.94 ± 5.54 μg/g, indicating a daily intake of 13.59 ± 3.31 mg/d for a reference Pakistani man weighing 63.9 kg. These values are comparable to those recommended by the International Commission of Radiological Protection for a man weighing 70 kg. We also found that the Pakistani diet contains zinc concentrations recommended by the U.S. Food and Nutrition Board and the International Commission of Radiological Protection.