Resumen

PASSAMAI DE ZEITUNE, María I., NOEMI RAMON, Adriana y COUCEIRO DE CADENA, Mónica Elena y. Um nutriente essencial na adolescência: valorização nutricional do zinco. Adolesc. Latinoam., mar. 2001, vol.2, no.2, p.61-66. ISSN 1414-7130.

Adolescence is a period in which growth, as well as the physical, phychological and social development take place in quick and intense way. In this biopsisocial process, nutrition influences on the changes that take place due to the increase of requirements, and on the individuals strategies to need them. Zinc is an essential element since it is a component, of enzymes that participate in most of the main metabolic ways. Light deficiencies of this element can influence on the patterns of the adolescents' growth because it carries out numerous structural, biochemical functions and of regulater different biological systems. There is no indicator reliable or specific; enough to asses the nutritional value of this trace element, the basal status of zinc is unknown in the individuals therefore it is not possible to asses the status of the trace element in a simple, quick way and with an appropriate interpretation, when symptoms of deficiencies appear.

Palabras llave: nutrition; physical development.