Abstract
The prevalence of obesity and dyslipidemia has increased worldwide. The role of trace elements in the pathogenesis of these conditions is not well understood. This study examines the relationship between dietary zinc (Zn) intake and plasma concentrations of Zn, copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) with lipid profile indicators, fatty acid composition in plasma phospholipids and desaturase enzyme activities in a dyslipidemic population. The role of the newly proposed biomarker of Zn status, the linoleic:dihomo-gama-linolenic acid (LA:DGLA) ratio, in predicting Zn status of dyslipidemic subjects has been explored. The study included 27 dyslipidemic adults, 39–72 years old. Trace elements were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry and fatty acid composition by a liquid gas chromatography. Desaturase activities were calculated from product-precursor fatty acid ratios. Dietary data were obtained using 24 h recall questionnaires. Insufficient dietary intake of Zn, low plasma Zn concentrations and an altered Cu:Zn ratio is related to modified fatty acid profile in subjects with dyslipidemia. Plasma Zn status was associated with obesity. There was no correlation between dietary Zn intake and plasma Zn status. The LA:DGLA ratio was inversely linked to dietary Zn intake. Cu, in addition to Zn, may directly or indirectly, affect the activity of desaturase enzymes.
Highlights
The number of people affected by obesity and dyslipidemia has increased significantly during the last two decades, largely attributed to the changes in dietary and lifestyle habits
The results offered in the present study add novel information to the limited body of literature on the relationship between the important trace elements (Zn, Cu and Fe) with fat intake and FA
We showed that people with dyslipidemia have inadequate dietary intakes of Zn and a low plasma Zn status
Summary
The number of people affected by obesity and dyslipidemia has increased significantly during the last two decades, largely attributed to the changes in dietary and lifestyle habits. Sixty-five percent of the world’s population live in countries where overweight and obesity harm more people than malnutrition [1]. According to the World Health organization (WHO) the worldwide obesity rates have nearly tripled since 1975 [1]. The incidence of obesity related diseases (i.e., hypertension, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome) increases [1,2]. Dyslipidemia is described as the presence of non-optimal blood lipids levels. People with dyslipidemia have either increased concentrations of triglycerides or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), or decreased levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) [3,4]. Raised cholesterol levels cause on average 2.6 million deaths and
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