Abstract
The prevalence of metabolic syndrome has been increasing rapidly worldwide. The functions of zinc may have a potential association with metabolic syndrome, but such associations have not been investigated extensively. Therefore, we examined the relationship between serum zinc levels and metabolic syndrome or metabolic risk factors among South Korean adults ≥20 years of age. The analysis used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a cross-sectional survey of Korean civilians, conducted from January to December 2010. A total of 1,926 participants were analyzed in this study. Serum zinc levels in men were negatively associated with elevated fasting glucose (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.36–0.93) and positively associated with elevated triglycerides (aOR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.01–2.13). A difference in serum zinc levels was detected in women, depending on the number of metabolic syndrome components (p = 0.002). Furthermore, serum zinc levels showed a decreasing trend with increasing numbers of metabolic syndrome components in women with metabolic syndrome. These findings suggest that serum zinc levels might be associated with metabolic syndrome or metabolic risk factors. Further gender-specific studies are needed to evaluate the effect of dietary or supplemental zinc intake on metabolic syndrome.
Highlights
Zinc is the second most common trace metal in the body and, as an essential micronutrient, is important in growth and development
The prevalence of Metabolic syndrome (MetS) in U.S adults was 27.9% according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) of 1988– 1994 and 34.1% according to the NHANES of 1999–2006 [12]
Characteristics of the participants according to serum zinc levels and the correlations between serum zinc levels and metabolic syndrome components
Summary
Zinc is the second most common trace metal in the body and, as an essential micronutrient, is important in growth and development. Zinc has crucial roles in the synthesis, storage and secretion of insulin and in the actions of insulin on carbohydrate metabolism [1,2]; zinc possesses an insulinomimetic effect [3,4]. Zinc plays vital roles as a cofactor for metalloenzymes in antioxidant defense systems such as those involving superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase [5], and as reducing inflammatory cytokine production via regulation of a zinc-finger protein [6,7]. The prevalence of MetS in U.S adults was 27.9% according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) of 1988– 1994 and 34.1% according to the NHANES of 1999–2006 [12]. In Korea, the prevalence of MetS increased from 24.9% in 1998 to 31.3% in 2007, according to the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) [13]
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