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Zinc
Zinc is important for skin and a healthy immune system, as well as resistance to infection.
Vegetarian diets provide enough zinc even though plants tend to contain less than meat. It's partly because people on plant-based diets lose less zinc in their urine. Slightly lower levels of zinc in the blood have been identified in vegetarians and vegans and may be due to lower absorption, caused by their higher intake of fibre - but it is unlikely that this has any medical significance. Studies have consistently failed to show that they are any less healthy because of it. According to the ADA, zinc levels in hair, blood and saliva of vegetarians and vegans are all within the normal range. There is strong evidence that people with low zinc intake simply adapt to the situation.
When researchers talk about 'normal' levels, it's important to remember that this is an average range in a meat-eating society. In fact it may well be the vegans who have a normal level and meat eaters whose levels are too high.
(Taken from this Viva Guide)
Good sources of zinc for vegetarians include: dairy products (free-range eggs!), lentils, beans, nuts, seeds (especially pumpkin seeds!), brewer's yeast (marmite?), green vegetables, wheatgerm and whole grain cereals.

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