Dietary Zinc Intake Research Articles

Relationship of Serum Zinc Level and Macro/Micronutrients with CD4 Levels in HIV Patients

Background: Deficiencies of micronutrients increase the risk of various infections in HIV-infected patients. Zinc deficiency in HIV-infected patients may be associated with decreased CD4 cell counts. Objectives: In this regard, the present study investigated the association between serum zinc levels, macro/micronutrient intake, and CD4 counts in HIV patients. Methods: The research population of this study included 194 adult HIV patients aged 18 to 70 years referred to Shiraz Behavioral Diseases Center, Shiraz, Iran. The CD4 cell counts were extracted from patients’ records. Serum zinc level was measured using atomic absorption method. Univariate and multivariate comparison of macro/micronutrient and food items with CD4 cells was performed using linear regression and SPSS20, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Fifty-seven percent were male, and the mean age and SD of total participants was 43.76 ± 9.06 years. The association between serum zinc levels and CD4 serum count is close to the significance level (P = 0.05), but the dietary zinc intake was not significantly correlated with serum CD4 counts (P = 0.26). Vegetable intake (P < 0.001) and fruits (P = 0.01) as well as absorption of vitamin A (P = 0.002), vitamin C (P < 0.001), beta-carotene (P = 0.002), folate (P = 0.05), and fiber (P = 0.01) from diet showed a direct and significant association with serum CD4 levels in HIV patients. Consumption of hydrogenated oils (P = 0.04) showed a significant inverse association with serum CD4 levels in these patients. Conclusions: Evaluation of serum micro/macronutrients can play an essential role in the development of appropriate dietary and supplement guidelines provided by the healthcare system for HIV-infected patients, and it can influence the decision- and policy-making regarding the control of non-pharmacological management of these patients.

Comparative analysis of methyl–donor nutrient intakes and RCPM cognitive performance among school-aged children

Evidence shows a link between methyl-donor nutrient intakes and a child's cognitive ability. However, this is less known among Ghanaian children who might be at higher risk of methyl-donor nutrient deficiencies. This study showed comparative analysis of methyl-donor nutrient intakes and Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices (RCPM) test performance among 2073 Ghanaian school children aged 9-13 years across four regions of Ghana. Data for the present study were obtained from the Child Nutrition, Fitness, and Cognition project; a cross-sectional survey conducted in four regions of Ghana. Dietary methyl-donor nutrient values were based on repeated 24h recall data collected during the study periods. Cognitive tests were performed on the 2073 children using Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices (RCPM) test. We found dietary zinc (adjusted: β=0.21, p=0.003) and methionine (adjusted: β=0.60, p=0.044) intakes to be associated with RCPM scores in the linear regression model. School children living in Northern Region (adjusted OR=0.6, p<0.001, 95% CI=0.4-0.7) and Volta Region (adjusted OR=0.7, p=0.006, 95% CI=0.5-0.9) had lower odds of scoring above the 50th percentile on the RCPM test compared with those living in Greater Accra Region. Children who consumed below the RDA for dietary folate (unadjusted OR=0.8, p=0.055, 95% CI=0.7-1.0) and zinc (unadjusted OR=0.8, p=0.049, 95%CI=0.7-1.0) had lower odds of scoring above the 50th percentile on the RCPM test compared with those who consumed above the RDA for dietary folate and zinc respectively. Children who consumed below the EAR for dietary vitamin B12 (unadjusted OR=0.7, p=0.004, 95% CI=0.6-0.9) had reduced odds of scoring above the 50th percentile on the RCPM test compared with those who consumed above the EAR for dietary vitamin B12. Higher dietary methionine intake was strongly associated with higher RCPM scores. Regional differences, and children's dietary consumption below the EAR/RDA for dietary folate, vitamin B12, and zinc were associated with poor RCPM test performance. School children's nutrient intake should be prioritized for improved cognition.

Potential effect of dietary zinc intake on telomere length: A cross-sectional study of US adults

Telomere length, which is related to chronic diseases and premature mortality, is influenced by dietary factors. Zinc is known as a dietary antioxidant micronutrient, however, its impact on telomere length remains unclear. We aimed to examine the potential effect of dietary zinc intake on telomere length among middle-aged and older individuals in the US. Our study included 3,793 US participants aged 45 years and older from the 1999 to 2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). 24-h dietary recall interviews were employed to evaluate zinc consumption. Leukocyte telomere length was assessed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). We adopted generalized linear models to investigate the effect of dietary zinc intake on telomere length, and subgroup analyses were further applied. We further evaluated the dose-response relationship using restricted cubic spline analysis. Among the 3,793 participants, the average telomere length was 0.926 ± 0.205 (T/S ratio) or 5509.5 ± 494.9 (bp). After adjusting for major confounders, every 5 mg increment in dietary zinc consumption was related to 0.64% (95% CI: 0.17%, 1.10%) longer telomere length. In the subgroup analyses, significant relationships were found in females (Percentage change: 1.11%; 95% CI: 0.48%, 1.75%), obese (Percentage change: 0.88%; 95% CI: 0.26%, 1.50%), and low energy intake individuals (Percentage change: 0.99%; 95% CI: 0.51%, 1.46%). Additionally, we revealed a positive linear relationship between dietary zinc intake and telomere length (P for non-linearity = 0.636). Our study revealed that elevated dietary zinc intake was significantly related to longer telomere length among adults aged 45 years and older in the US. And the association was more pronounced in females, obese, and low energy intake individuals.

Dietary zinc intake and mortality in patients with intestinal-type gastric cancer: A prospective cohort study in Korea

Current evidence regarding the association between zinc intake and gastric cancer (GC)-specific survival in patients with intestinal-type GC is lacking. Therefore, this cohort study investigated the association between zinc intake and GC mortality through follow-up on GC death among patients with intestinal-type GC and whether these effects differ according to the source of zinc intake. A total of 185 patients with intestinal-type GC were enrolled from two hospitals between 2002 and 2006. Their survival or death was prospectively followed up until December 31, 2016, through a review of medical records and telephone surveys. A total of 178 patients were included and analyzed. The median follow-up period was 7.3 years. In the fully adjusted models, the highest tertile of total zinc intake showed a significantly lower GC mortality than the lowest tertile (hazard ratio, 0.22; 95% confidence interval: 0.08-0.64). In addition, the tertile of total zinc intake showed a dose-response association with GC mortality (p=0.015). Analysis of the source of zinc intake revealed that when zinc intake from staples (rice and noodles), animal, and plant food sources were combined, the results were similar to those of total zinc intake and GC mortality. Zinc intake through various foods may be effective in reducing GC mortality by achieving balance with other nutrients. Our results suggest that zinc improves the survival of patients with intestinal-type GC in Korea.

A cross-sectional study on the effect of dietary zinc intake on the relationship between serum vitamin D3 and HOMA-IR.

Serum vitamin D3 concentration is associated with the risk of insulin resistance. Zinc has also been reported to be associated with a lower risk of insulin resistance. In addition, zinc is an essential cofactor in the activation of vitamin D3. However, the effect of dietary zinc intake on the relationship between vitamin D3 and insulin resistance risk has not been fully studied. Therefore, we designed this cross-sectional study to assess the impact of changes in zinc intake on the relationship between vitamin D3 and insulin resistance risk. This study analyzed data from the national Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2005 to 2018, involving 9,545 participants. Participants were stratified by zinc intake category (low zinc intake <9.58 mg/ day; High zinc intake: ≥9.58 mg/ day). In this cross-sectional study, serum vitamin D3 levels were independently associated with the risk of insulin resistance in both the low and high Zinc intakes (β: -0.26, 95%Cl: -0.56~0.04 vs. β: -0.56, 95%Cl: -1.01~-0.11). In addition, this association was influenced by different dietary zinc intakes (interaction P < 0.05). Our results suggest that zinc intake may influence the association between serum vitamin D3 and the risk of insulin resistance. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to provide more evidence of this finding.

Dietary zinc intake and body mass index as modifiers of the association between household pesticide exposure and infertility among US women: a population-level study.

Clinical studies on the relationship between pesticide exposure at home and infertility in the general population are scarce. Whether the antioxidant nutrients or other health-related factors affect the pesticide–infertility relationship remains unknown. This nationwide study screened 29,400 participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys conducted between 2013 and 2018. The participants were subdivided according to dietary zinc intake based on the recommended dietary allowances as the low-zinc and high-zinc groups (< 8 and ≥ 8 mg/day, respectively), and according to body mass index (BMI; cut-off 28 kg/m2) as the low-BMI and high-BMI groups. Participants who were exposed to pesticides at home had an increased risk of infertility (odds ratio [OR] = 1.56, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.06–2.29). The incidence of infertility differed in low-zinc and high-zinc groups (OR, 95% CI: 2.38, 1.40–4.06 vs. 0.98, 0.53–1.79, respectively), indicating an interaction between pesticide exposure and zinc intake in households (P = 0.047), which suggests that a zinc-rich diet may reduce the risk of pesticide-induced infertility. Similarly, the relationship between pesticide exposure and infertility risk differed in the low-BMI and high-BMI groups (OR, 95% CI: 0.90, 0.42–1.93 vs. 2.23, 1.39–3.58, respectively; P = 0.045), suggesting that high BMI may intensify the infertility risk caused by pesticide exposure. These new findings reveal the antagonistic and synergistic effect of zinc and obesity, respectively, in pesticide-induced infertility risk and suggest that individuals who are obese and on a low-zinc diet may be more susceptible to infertility induced by household pesticide exposure.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11356-022-23629-x.

Prevalence of low dietary zinc intake in women and pregnant women in Ireland.

BackgroundIn humans, zinc is involved in many biological functions acting as signaling ion, neurotransmitter, structural component of proteins, and cofactor for many enzymes and, through this, is an important regulator of the immune and nervous system. Food supplies zinc to the human body, but a high prevalence of inadequate dietary zinc intake has been reported worldwide.AimsThe objective of this study was to investigate the zinc intake and bioavailability of over 250 women (pregnant and non-pregnant) based in Ireland, in order to evaluate the dietary inadequacy of zinc.MethodologyWe used a food frequency questionnaire designed to assess the zinc intake and bioavailability of the participants.ResultsOur results show that 58% of participants are at risk of inadequate zinc intake and that 29% may be zinc deficient. The prevalence of inadequate zinc intake was lower for pregnant women (zinc deficient 9%, at risk 38%) than for non-pregnant women due to more frequent consumption of supplements. Low zinc intake was not correlated with the age of participants and resulted from a combination of inadequate intake of zinc-rich food and relatively higher intake of food items rich in phytate, a major zinc uptake inhibitor.ConclusionsWe conclude that at present, low zinc intake may be prevalent in as much as 87% of women, including 47% of pregnant women. Therefore, zinc status needs to be considered as a factor impacting the health of women, and in particular pregnant women, also in industrialized and developed countries such as Ireland.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11845-022-03181-w.

Micronutrient intake and risk of ulcerative colitis: A meta-analysis of observational studies.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) poses a challenge to patients' health status and lifestyle. Micronutrient intake has been associated with the risk of UC, but the association has been inconsistent. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to clarify the overall association between micronutrient intake, as potentially modifiable risk factors, and the risk of UC. Based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocols, systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to September 2021. Studies were considered eligible for inclusion if they met the following criteria: (1) observational studies that compared dietary intake of zinc, calcium, or magnesium between the UC group and the control group and (2) had means and standard deviations or medians and interquartile ranges of outcome variables. A total of 7 studies with 1197 participants were included in the meta-analysis. The random-effects meta-analysis showed that there was no significant association between the intake of calcium (WMD:-66.25mg/day, 95% CI:-276.7 to 144.21, P=0.54), magnesium (WMD:-21.47mg/day, 95% CI:-95.54 to 52.6, P=0.57), and zinc (WMD: 0.3mg/day, 95% CI:-1.5 to 2, P=0.74) and the risk of UC. However, there was high significant heterogeneity between studies in dietary intake of calcium (I2=95.1%, P<0.001), magnesium (I2=96%, P<0.001), and zinc (I2=95.8%, P=<0.001). In a location-based subgroup analysis, calcium intake in non-Asian countries was significantly lower in patients with UC compared to healthy controls. In addition, magnesium intake was negatively associated with the risk of UC in studies with a sample size of less than 190 subjects. However, for the association between zinc intake and UC risk, subgroup analysis failed to find a source of heterogeneity. No significant association was found between dietary calcium, magnesium, and zinc intake and risk of UC.

Association Between Nutritional Status and Quality of Life in Patients With Allergic Rhinitis

Objectives: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a heterogeneous disorder with immune pathophysiology affecting quality of life (QOL) and productivity at work or education. This study aimed to evaluate the association between macro- and micro-nutrient intakes with QOL in AR patients. Materials and Methods: Using convenience sampling method, this cross-sectional study included 60 AR patients in the age range of 15-60 years referred to the Allergy Clinic of Mohammad Kermanshashi hospital, Kermanshash, Iran from March to December 2018. Data including body composition, QOL, and nutritional status were collected. Independent t test, chi-square, and Pearson correlation were used for data analysis. Results: According to the results of Spearman test, while cholesterol intake level was directly associated with low QOL (P = 0.049, r=0.283), dietary zinc intake had a negative correlation with low QOL (P = 0.045, r=-0.262). However, there were no significant associations between other macro- and micro-nutrient intakes and QOL in patients. Conclusions: In this study, higher intake of cholesterol, unlike zinc, had a negative effect on QOL in AR patients.

Correlated factors with serum zinc levels of infertile male farmers in Larangan district, Indonesia

One in five people in the world is at risk of zinc deficiency. In Indonesia, 77.48% of the population has zinc deficiency. Zinc deficiency causes sperm abnormalities, such as hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the fibrous sheath, axonal disorders, and abnormal midpiece. Serum zinc levels of infertile males were significantly lower than normal males. Factors causing a lack of serum zinc are inadequate dietary zinc intake and zinc absorption inhibitors. Serum zinc levels are influenced by unclear factors. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI), zinc, iron, protein, tannins and phytate intake with serum zinc levels of infertile male farmers in the Larangan district. This research was an observational study with a cross-sectional design. The sample selection used a total sampling technique of as many as 58 male infertile farmers. Data was collected through interviews using a food frequency semi-quantitative questionnaire, measurement of height using a microtoise, weighing using a digital stepping scale, and laboratory tests of venipuncture blood samples. Data analysis was performed using Pearson correlation and Spearman range. The average BMI of respondents was above the normal limit (26.09). The average zinc intake was 8.99 mg/ day, the average iron intake was 18.31 mg/day, the average protein intake was 85.71 g/ day, and the average tannin intake was 139.93 mg/day. The average phytate intake was 1147.73 mg/day and the average serum zinc level was 78.02 μg/dL. The bivariate analysis showed that there was no relationship between BMI (p-value = 0.29), zinc intake (p-value = 0.42), iron (p-value = 0.33), protein (p-value = 0.70), tannins (p-value = 0.19), and phytate (p-value = 0.63) with serum zinc levels. The average zinc intake of infertile male farmers was below the cut of nutritional adequacy rate. Infertile male farmers are advised to increase their consumption of animal zinc sources to make ends meet zinc intake per day.

Combined hyperforin and lanicemine treatment instead of ketamine or imipramine restores behavioral deficits induced by chronic restraint stress and dietary zinc restriction in mice.

Clinical and preclinical studies show evidence that chronic stress or nutritional deficits in dietary zinc (Zn) intake may be risk factors for developing major depressive disorder (MDD). Furthermore, there may be possible links between low serum Zn levels and development of treatment-resistant depression. In the present work, we combined chronic restraint stress (CRS) and a low-zinc diet (ZnD) in mice and carried out a set of behavioral and biochemical studies. The mice were treated with four different antidepressant compounds, namely, ketamine, Ro 25–6981 (Ro), hyperforin and lanicemine (Hyp + Lan), and imipramine (IMI). We show that CRS or ZnD alone or a combination of CRS and ZnD (CRS + ZnD) induces anhedonia observed in the sucrose preference test (SPT). The behavioral effects of CRS were restored by ketamine or IMI. However, only Hyp + Lan restored the deficits in behavioral phenotype in mice subjected to CRS + ZnD. We also showed that the antidepressant-like effects observed in Hyp + Lan-treated CRS + ZnD mice were associated with changes in the morphology of the dendritic spines (restored physiological level) in the hippocampus (Hp). Finally, we studied the metabolism of ketamine and its brain absorption in CRS and CRS + ZnD mice. Our results suggest that CRS + ZnD does not alter the metabolism of ketamine to (2R,6R;2S,6S)-HNK; however, CRS + ZnD can induce altered bioavailability and distribution of ketamine in the Hp and frontal cortex (FC) in CRS + ZnD animals compared to the control and CRS groups.

Dietary Intakes and Nutritional Status of Mother-Child (6-23 Months Old) Pair Targeted through the "Organic Residual Products for Biofortified Foods for Africa Project" in Rural Area in Senegal

Background: Despite micronutrient supplementation and food fortification strategies carried out for decades, micronutrient deficiencies remain prevalent among children under 5 years old in rural area in Senegal. The OR4FOOD project was implemented as a preventive and long-term approach to reduce malnutrition through biofortification.&#x0D; Objective: We aimed to assess the baseline dietary intakes and nutritional status of the mother-child (6-23 months old) pair in a rural community in Senegal. &#x0D; Methods: Dietary intakes were assessed using dietary recall questionnaires and weight food records. All foods and beverages consumed from waking to bedtime were quantified, and nutrient intakes were calculated. The nutritional status was measured by anthropometry.&#x0D; Results: Results showed that 77.2% of children had low dietary diversity score. Only 18% of them received an appropriate complementary feeding according to the minimum acceptable diet. Cereals and legumes were among the most consumed food groups, whereas orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) and animal food products were rarely consumed. Median dietary intakes of iron, zinc, and vitamin A were lower than the recommended dietary allowances. Acute malnutrition and stunting affected 14.6% and 16.9% of children, respectively. Overall, 20.8% of mothers were underweighted, and overweight/obesity affected 23.1% of them.&#x0D; Conclusion: Malnutrition remains prevalent in rural areas of Senegal and affects both mothers and children. Furthermore, their nutrient requirements were not covered by the diet. Millet and cowpea being widely consumed, optimizing their iron and zinc content through biofortification and the introduction of OFSP might improve micronutrient intakes and would be promising strategies to prevent child malnutrition.

Association of Impulsivity With Food, Nutrients, and Fitness in a Longitudinal Birth Cohort Study.

Impulsivity is a psychiatric vulnerability factor strongly associated with substance abuse but also with unhealthy diet. Whether these associations extend to specific nutrients is largely unknown. Therefore, we investigated the longitudinal association between diet, cardiorespiratory fitness, and 2 impulsivity dimensions in a representative sample of south Estonian adolescents and young adults. Impulsivity and dietary intake were measured 3 times in 2 birth cohorts at regular intervals in individuals aged 15 to 33 years. The sample included 2 birth cohorts of the longitudinal Estonian Children Personality Behaviour and Health Study. The analytic sample size consisted of 2883 observations (56.4% females). The primary outcomes were adaptive and maladaptive impulsivity scores measured by an original 24-item Likert-type questionnaire. Impulsivity scores were predicted from the food diaries data converted into nutrient categories. A linear mixed-effects approach was used to model the time dependence between observations. Lower maladaptive impulsivity was associated with higher cardiorespiratory fitness (β = -.07; 95% CI = -0.12; -0.03). Higher maladaptive impulsivity was associated with lower dietary intake of zinc (β = -.10; -0.15; -0.06) and vegetables (β = -.04; -0.07; -0.01) and higher intake of sodium (β = .06; 0.02; 0.10). Vitamin B6 was positively associated with adaptive impulsivity (β = .04; 0.01; 0.07). Additionally, some of the adjusted models showed significant but weak associations with selenium, alcohol, fish, and cereal products. Food choice may affect the neurochemistry and therefore regulate the manifestations of impulsivity. We identified associations between several (micro)nutrients and maladaptive impulsivity.

Zinc Kinetics Correlate With Length-for-Age z Scores in Bangladeshi Infants.

Stunting [length-for-age z score (LAZ) &lt;-2] has multiple causes and is prevalent in areas with low dietary zinc (Zn) intake. Zinc kinetics from non-stunted infants were used in a published model for predicting linear growth; here, we directly measure zinc kinetics in stunted infants. Zinc kinetics were determined in 9-month-old Bangladeshi infants (n = 10), who were non-wasted [weight-for-length z score (WLZ) &gt; -2], ranging in LAZ from -2.9 to -0.43. Stable isotopes were administered 2 hours after a meal as oral ( 70 Zn) and intravenous ( 67 Zn) tracers. After isotope administration, blood was sampled within 5 hours and all urine and feces were collected for 24 hours. Urine was sampled twice-daily out to 9 days. Data were analyzed by compartmental modeling. Daily zinc intake was estimated by the model as the sum of zinc used for growth plus that lost via urine and feces. Zinc absorbed (the amount required to maintain steady state) was the sum of zinc used for growth plus urine and endogenous fecal excretions. The LAZ score correlated with serum zinc concentration ( R = 0.77, P = 0.001), urinary zinc excretion ( R = 0.66, P = 0.010), and fractional zinc absorption from calculated daily intake ( R = 0.58, P = 0.030). In stunted infants (n = 8), the amount of zinc absorbed did not increase with calculated zinc intake unlike published values for non-stunted infants. Zinc kinetics in Bangladeshi infants correlate with LAZ and show that malabsorption of supplemental sources of zinc may occur in stunted infants.

Dietary Zinc Intake Affects the Association Between Dietary Vitamin A and Depression: A Cross-Sectional Study.

IntroductionDietary vitamin A concentrations correlate with depression. Zinc has been reported to be associated with lower depression. In addition, zinc is an important cofactor in the activation of vitamin A. However, there are few studies investigating relationships between of dietary zinc intake, dietary vitamin A intake and depression.Materials and MethodsThe data for this study came from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2005 to 2018 and involved 70,190 participants. We stratified participants by recommended dietary zinc intake (recommended dietary zinc intake for women: 8 mg/day, recommended dietary zinc intake for men: 11 mg/day). We further assessed the association between vitamin A and depression in participants with low and high zinc intake (interaction test) using univariate logistic regression of intake participants.ResultIn the female population we grouped the population into low and high zinc intake groups using the recommended dietary zinc intake of 8 (mg/day), with an increase in total vitamin A, the risk of depression was significantly lower in the low zinc intake group (OR: 0.85 95 CI: 0.76–0.96), while the risk of depression was increased in the high zinc intake group (OR: 1.05 95 CI: 0.95 to 1.17). Thus, in the female population, there was a significant interaction between insufficient vitamin an intake and depression (interaction likelihood ratio test of p = 0.011). In the male population we grouped the population by the recommended dietary zinc intake of 11(mg/day). Again, the population was divided into two groups with low and high zinc intake, however we did not find significant results for the interaction (p = 0.743 for the interaction likelihood ratio test).ConclusionOur findings suggest that zinc intake may influence the relationship between dietary vitamin A and depression. Of course, our findings require further randomized controlled trials to enhance the credibility.

Zinc nutritional status, mood states and quality of life in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: a case–control study

Zinc is an important trace element for structure, and regulation in the central nervous system, as well as the gut homeostasis. There are several mental disorders associated with zinc deficiency. The relationship between zinc nutritional status with mood states and quality of life (QoL) in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) has not been studied yet. This case–control study aimed to investigate the association between zinc nutritional status with mood states and QoL in IBS-D patients. Sixty-one newly diagnosed patients with IBS-D and 61 matched healthy controls were enrolled. Dietary zinc intakes and serum zinc levels were measured. Mood states and QoL were evaluated by validated questionnaires. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of IBS-D in relation to zinc deficiency. Decreased serum zinc levels were observed in the IBS-D group than in the controls (p = 0.001). There were higher scores of depression (p = 0.014), anxiety (p = 0.005), and stress (p = 0.001) among IBS-D patients. Moreover, overall QoL, physical and psychological health were lower in IBS-D patients compared to the controls (p < 0.001). “Food avoidance” had the lowest, while the “relationship” had the highest score among the patients (51.09 ± 26.80 and 78.14 ± 23.30, respectively). Dietary zinc intake was positively correlated with psychological health in the controls (r = 0.295, p = 0.022) and with body image in the patients (r = 0.266, p = 0.044). According to the logistic regression, zinc deficiency was not significantly associated with odds of IBS-D. Findings show that zinc deficiency may be associated with some parameters of IBS-D. Further clinical studies are needed to explore the causal relationship between zinc status and IBS pathogenesis.

Dietary Intake and Asthma in Preschoolers: A Logistic Lasso Regression Analysis.

BackgroundAsthma is a common chronic disease among children, especially preschoolers. Some evidence suggests that diet may play a role in asthma, but the current findings are contradictory. The objective of our study was to determine the association between dietary intake and asthma in preschool children aged 2–5 years.MethodsWe selected preschool children aged 2–5 years with complete data on asthma diagnosis, diet, and body mass index (BMI) from the national health and nutrition examination survey (NHANES) database. In a selected population, children with self-reported asthma were included in the final sample. In children without self-reported asthma, we further used propensity score matching (PSM) to match age and sex for sampling, maintaining a ratio of 1:4 for cases. Lasso regression was used to identify dietary factors affecting asthma in preschoolers.ResultsA total of 269 children with self-reported asthma and 1,076 children without self-reported asthma were included in our study. Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in ethnicity and dietary zinc intake between asthmatic children and children without asthma. After adjusting for all dietary and demographic variables, the results of logistic Lasso regression analysis showed that non-Hispanic black (β = 0.65), vitamin B12 (β = 0.14), and sodium (β = 0.05) were positively associated with childhood asthma, while Vitamin K (β = −0.04) was negatively associated with childhood asthma.ConclusionIn conclusion, our study confirms that non-Hispanic black and dietary sodium intake are associated with a higher risk of asthma in preschoolers. In addition, our study found that dietary vitamin B12 was positively associated with childhood asthma, while vitamin K was negatively associated with childhood asthma.

Study on zinc accumulation, bioavailability, physicochemical and structural characteristics of brown rice combined with germination and zinc fortification

In this work, the combination treatment of zinc sulfate fortification and germination was used to increase zinc content and bioavailability of brown rice. The zinc content in brown rice during germination time of 10–34 h gradually increased with the increase of zinc sulfate concentration (0–100 mg/L). Brown rice with zinc fortified concentration of 25 mg/L and germinated for 28 h was recommended, which reached the maximum (26.31%) of zinc bioavailability and met the requirements of recommended dietary intake (RDA) of zinc. The physicochemical and structural characteristics of brown rice under different treatment conditions were compared. As the germination time prolonged, the germination rate (%), total phenol content, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging rate (%) and Gamma-aminobutyric acid content of fortified or unfortified brown rice increased, while the phytic acid content decreased. The fortification treatment improved total phenol content and antioxidant activity of germinated brown rice. The crystalline structure of brown rice was destroyed during germination, but no significant change of crystalline structure caused by zinc sulfate fortification was found. These results could provide valuable reference for the application of germination in the field of brown rice fortification and the preparation of zinc-rich germinated brown rice products.

Insights Into the Interplay Among Zinc, Biological Aging, Fasting, Energy Intake, and Inflammation: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Using 2015–2018 NHANES Participants

ObjectivesAlthough it is documented that zinc plays an essential role in immune function, little is known about its relationship to factors that influence biological aging. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to investigate how fasting status, total energy intake, and carbohydrate intake interfaces with dietary zinc (Zn) intake and acute inflammation status via HS-CRP in different age groups.Methods4,415 adult participants from the 2015–2018 NHANES cycles with a BMI of 17–34.9 were included in the analysis. The data derived from the first and secondary dietary recall, fasting questionnaire, physical examination, and bloodwork collected at the MEC. Participants were stratified into the following four age groups: “Young Adult” (19–35; n = 1211), “Adult” (36–50; n = 1032), “Middle-Aged Adult” (51–65; n = 1177), and “Older Adult”(66–80; n = 995). Per age group, circulating levels of HS-CRP were associated with dietary Zn intake and either fasting status, energy intake and or carbohydrate intake while adjusting for WBC count, choline intake, folate intake, BMI, and gender. Survey weighted generalized linear models were constructed and the Rao-Scott likelihood ratio test was implemented via the survey package in R.Results35.9% of the Young Adult group had an inadequate intake of zinc, which was defined as consuming less than 8 mg of Zn per day, 48.8% fasted for 9 or more hours, and the mean HS-CRP was 3.2 (SD = 6.0). For the group Young Adult, a two-way interaction effect was identified between the variables Adequate Zn Intake, defined as consuming at least 8 mg of Zn per day and Fasting, defined as fasting for 9 or more hours, which was associated with a reduction in circulating HS-CRP (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.33–0.96, P = 0.038). Fasting was also associated with higher levels of HS-CRP (OR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.12–2.76, P = 0.016). No other models were significant.ConclusionsShort-term fasting in the 19–35-year-old participants is associated with an increase in HS-CRP; however, having adequate Zn intake when fasting may lower circulating levels of HS-CRP. Neither energy intake nor carbohydrate consumption had any significant associations in any of the age groups.Funding SourcesNone.

Reconsidering the Tolerable Upper Levels of Zinc Intake among Infants and Young Children: A Systematic Review of the Available Evidence.

Safe upper levels (UL) of zinc intake for children were established based on either (1) limited data from just one study among children or (2) extrapolations from studies in adults. Resulting ULs are less than amounts of zinc consumed by children in many studies that reported benefits of zinc interventions, and usual dietary zinc intakes often exceed the UL, with no apparent adverse effects. Therefore, existing ULs may be too low. We conducted a systematic bibliographic review of studies among preadolescent children, in which (1) additional zinc was provided vs. no additional zinc provided, and (2) the effect of zinc on serum or plasma copper, ceruloplasmin, ferritin, transferrin receptor, lipids, or hemoglobin or erythrocyte super-oxide dismutase were assessed. We extracted data from 44 relevant studies with 141 comparisons. Meta-analyses found no significant overall effect of providing additional zinc, except for a significant negative effect on ferritin (p = 0.001), albeit not consistent in relation to the zinc dose. Interpretation is complicated by the significant heterogeneity of results and uncertainties regarding the physiological and clinical significance of outcomes. Current zinc ULs should be reassessed and potentially revised using data now available for preadolescent children and considering challenges regarding interpretation of results.