Define Gastrointestinal tract - Excretion of Zinc in Humans?
Majority of zinc is lost from the body in faeces. Endogenous zinc in the form of enzymes or metallo-proteins is secreted into the gastrointestinal tract by the salivary glands, intestinal mucosa, pancreas and liver. Some of this zinc is reabsorbed while some is excreted. Sloughed enterocytes also contribute to faecal zinc. Endogenous intestinal losses can vary from 7 μmol/day (0.5 mg/day) to more than 45 μmol /day (3 mg /day), depending on zinc intake-the higher the intake, the greater the losses.