The Role of Zinc Testing in Diagnosing Asthenia: A Critical Evaluation of Clinical Practices and Gender Differences.

This critical analysis evaluates the clinical practice of zinc testing in patients presenting with asthenia, based on an observational audit using the EMIS Primary Care System, involving 48 patients from a population of 46,755 individuals. The study investigates gender-based differences in zinc levels and assesses whether low or borderline zinc levels correlate with asthenia. Results indicate that females are more likely to exhibit borderline low zinc levels. However, no definitive relationship between zinc deficiency and asthenia was observed. This suggests that attributing fatigue to marginal zinc levels may lead to over-diagnosis, particularly in females. Misinterpreting non-pathological zinc values could contribute to patient anxiety and diminished trust in healthcare. Key Words : Zinc, Asthenia, Zinc Deficiency, Gender Differences, Subclinical Deficiency, Over-diagnosis, Trace Elements, Nutritional Deficiency, Fatigue, Clinical Audit