Effects of zinc deficiency on gut microbiota of school-age children. Effects of zinc deficiency on gut microbiota of school-age children

As an essential trace element in organisms, zinc also has potential relationship with intestinal microbiota. Zinc deficiency could lead to dynamic variation in microbial composition and function in mice, chick, and human. However, how the zinc deficiency affect the gut microbiota of school-age remained unclear. Thus, this study aims to reveal the effect of zinc deficiency on the composition and function of gut microbiota using amplicon sequencing of school-age children that may offer potential ways to for address zinc deficiency, which paves the way for improving the nutritional and health conditions of school-age children.