[Zinc in digestive diseases (author's transl)].

The present review is concerned by the main features of zinc metabolism (requirements, intestinal absorption, tissue distribution, excretion). The relationships between zinc variations and gut pathology are discussed with respect to the following points: criteria for the diagnostic of zinc deficiency, pathophysiological mechanisms, clinical consequences, therapeutic implications. Evidence for zinc malabsorption is present in Acrodermatitis enteropathica and in chronic zinc deficiency observed in Middle-East. During last decade zinc deficiency has been frequently reported in total parenteral feeding. Alterations in plasma zinc concentrations have been described in coeliac disease and inflammatory bowel disease but a true deficiency remains to be established in this pathological states.