People tend to shrink with age, especially after age 50 or so. It has to do with spaces between the joints amount of cartilage and posture. Bone length does not change.

I agree that zinc is one of the important micro-nutrients but people require a balanced blend of food for our biological engines.

Being shorter or taller depends on details of the diet. Vegetarians can obtain a balanced diet, with sufficient complete protein, vitamins, minerals and micro-nutrients. It's trickier for vegans but it can be done.

Young children from Guatemala who are adopted into the United States gain considerable height relative to the standards. So the height difference cannot be genetic.

There are some effects of the biome. Compact bodies tend to conserve heat relative to linear ones. This can affect average height as well as body proportions. The study participants Europeans and Americans do not fall into the range where this effect is powerful, however.

Taller people tend to earn more on average, although the effect is modest. This is clearly true in occupations where strength is important but also a relationship exists in other occupations as well. It could be perceptions, as you say or something systematic. It's somewhat of a mystery.

People tend to shrink with age, especially after age 50 or so. It has to do with spaces between the joints amount of cartilage and posture. Bone length does not change.