Efficacy of Zinc Fortified Fermented Wheat Flour

Plain-language summary

Zinc is a pivotal micronutrient that participates in numerous essential metabolic pathways within the human body. Its multifaceted role makes the manifestations of zinc deficiency remarkably nonspecific and age-dependent. In children, zinc deficiency can manifest as growth retardation, cognitive impairment, recurrent infections, and other diverse symptoms. Adolescents and adults may experience fertility issues, work capacity impairment, and metabolic disorders due to zinc deficiency. Furthermore, zinc plays a crucial role in maintaining immune function, particularly in the elderly, where recurrent infections can be a notable outcome of deficiency. Given its fundamental importance, the potential benefits of zinc supplementation and fortification strategies have been explored, with some evidence indicating positive effects on health outcomes such as childhood mortality, diarrhea morbidity, and even risk factors for conditions like Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Understanding zinc's significance in these metabolic processes is vital for addressing deficiencies and improving public health. A study is needed to assess the effect of various types of fermented and unfermented wheat flour flatbread and its impact on health including zinc status, anthropometric outcomes, risk of T2DM and CVD and morbidity on adolescent and adult females. The whole wheat flatbread trial would be ideal to inform policy as it is regularly consumed in Sindh as most people rely on chakki for wheat grinding and it is used commonly to make roti at home.

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