Zinc Deficiency and Inadequate Zinc Intake among Postpartum Women in Coastal Area of Makassar, Indonesia.

Zinc deficiency was common among women, which mainly determined by adequacy of zinc intake, type of zinc compound in the diet, and presence of inhibitors of zinc absorption. This study aimed to assess the zinc status and zinc intake among postpartum women. A cross-sectional study was conducted in three community health centres located in coastal area of Makassar, Indonesia. Eighty-seven women participated in the study. A short Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency for zinc sources was used to collect dietary data. Venous bloods were drawn from all woman and serum zinc concentrations were measured using QuantiChrom Zinc Assay Kit (DIZN-250). Pearson correlation tests were undertaken to investigate relationship between zinc intake, phytate intake, and serum zinc concentration. All women were zinc-deficient (<66 mcg/dL) and 21.8% respondents had inadequate zinc intake. The average zinc intake was 15.9 mg/d with rice and legumes were the main contributors to zinc intake (54.10% and 11.33%, respectively). The average phytate intake was 6.5 gram/d, also with rice and legumes as the main contributors (63.30% and 14.97%, respectively). No significant association was observed between zinc intake and serum zinc concentration as well as between phytate intake and serum zinc concentration (r=0.063; p=0.053 and r=0.150; p=0.165, respectively). Postpartum women in coastal area of Makassar were zinc deficient and had low intake of zinc. The main dietary zinc sources were mainly plant source foods which have low bioavailability and high phytate content.