Biomaterial Database

Provisional tables on the zinc content of foods. 1975

E W Murphy, and B W Willis, and B K Watt

A critical and exhaustive review of published and unpublished data on the zinc content of foods showed that, with few exceptions, the major dietary sources of zinc were foods of animal origin. Oysters, which contained more than 5 mg. zinc per 3-oz. cooked portion, were an outstanding source of zinc. Lean beef and beef liver were also among the foods highest in zinc and ground beef was a good source. Dark meat of poultry contained more zinc than light meat, and turkey was higher in zinc than chicken. Egg yolk, but not egg white, was relatively high in zinc, as were nonfat dry milk and Cheddar cheese. Foods of plant origin, like those of animal origin, varied widely in zinc content. Cocoa and the milling fractions of bran and germ of wheat were high in zinc. Seeds of plants, such as muture dry legumes and peanuts, were better sources of zinc than were leaves, stalks, fruits, or roots. Vegetables, fruits, oils, fats, tea, coffee, and carbonated beverages contained little zinc. Factors influencing the zinc content of foods were evaluated. Provisional tables, giving representative values for zinc in more than two hundred foods, both in 100-gm. portions and in common household units, based on this research, are presented.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008460	Meat	The edible portions of any animal used for food including cattle, swine, goats/sheep, poultry, fish, shellfish, and game.	Meats
D011202	Poultry Products	Food products manufactured from poultry.	Poultry Product,Product, Poultry,Products, Poultry
D002523	Edible Grain	SEEDS used as a major nutritional source, most often the grain from the POACEAE family.	Cereals,Cereal Grain,Cereal,Cereal Grains,Edible Grains,Grain, Cereal,Grain, Edible,Grains, Cereal,Grains, Edible
D003611	Dairy Products	Raw and processed or manufactured milk and milk-derived products. These are usually from cows (bovine) but are also from goats, sheep, reindeer, and water buffalo.	Dairy Product,Product, Dairy,Products, Dairy
D004032	Diet	Regular course of eating and drinking adopted by a person or animal.	Diets
D004040	Dietary Carbohydrates	Carbohydrates present in food comprising digestible sugars and starches and indigestible cellulose and other dietary fibers. The former are the major source of energy. The sugars are in beet and cane sugar, fruits, honey, sweet corn, corn syrup, milk and milk products, etc.; the starches are in cereal grains, legumes (FABACEAE), tubers, etc. (From Claudio & Lagua, Nutrition and Diet Therapy Dictionary, 3d ed, p32, p277)	Carbohydrates, Dietary,Carbohydrate, Dietary,Dietary Carbohydrate
D004041	Dietary Fats	Fats present in food, especially in animal products such as meat, meat products, butter, ghee. They are present in lower amounts in nuts, seeds, and avocados.	Fats, Dietary,Dietary Fat,Fat, Dietary
D005308	Fertilizers	Substances or mixtures that are added to the soil to supply nutrients or to make available nutrients already present in the soil, in order to increase plant growth and productivity.	Fertilizer
D005396	Fish Products	Food products manufactured from fish (e.g., FISH FLOUR, fish meal).	Fish Product,Product, Fish,Products, Fish
D005504	Food Analysis	Measurement and evaluation of the components of substances to be taken as FOOD.	Analysis, Food,Analyses, Food,Food Analyses