Abstract
Zinc has important physiological responsibilities, but, unlike iron, there is no reliable assessment tool to detect marginal zinc status. Moreover, zinc's significance in human physiology often is overshadowed by iron's importance. With the increasing popularity of plant-based diets comes greater consumption of phytate, which can reduce the bioavailability of zinc (and other minerals) abundant in whole grains, beans, seeds, and nuts. This report highlights the biological actions of zinc, requirements and rich food sources, calculation of the phytate:zinc molar ratio for classifying zinc bioavailability, and food preparation techniques that reduce phytate content to maximize the absorption of zinc.