A defect in zinc uptake by jejunal biopsies in acrodermatitis enteropathica.

1. In a system in vitro, 65Zn accumulation by jejunal mucosal biopsies from patients with acrodermatitis enteropathica was found to be markedly reduced compared with controls. 2. We suggest that defective uptake of zinc by enterocytes is the primary abnormality responsible for the zinc deficiency underlying this disorder.