Signs Of Zinc Deficiency Research Articles

Zinc and Growth with Picky Eating in a Jordan Pediatric Clinic: An Observational Study

Background: Picky eating is a common feeding disorder in early childhood, characterized by a refusal to eat familiar foods or try new ones. This disorder can lead to nutritional deficiencies as well as impacting growth and development. The study aimed to determine whether picky eating is related to low serum zinc levels and growth in southern Jordan. Methods: Data collection was based on history taking and the physical examination of all examined patients at the pediatric clinic of Al-Karak Teaching Hospital. The collected data included hair loss, other signs of zinc deficiency, weight for age (Z-score), income category of the family, and the presence of underlying diseases. Blood levels of zinc, vitamin D, ferritin and hemoglobin were determined, and the results were analyzed statistically using ANOVA and t-tests. Results: An association was found between low serum zinc levels and low weight for age Z-scores, confirming the relationship between zinc deficiency and underlying general nutritional deficiencies, such as celiac disease and acrodermatitis enteropathica, which were rare (4 out of 118 studied cases); however, these patients had severely low serum zinc levels compared to the nutritional causes. On the other hand, the income category of the patient’s family could not reliably predict low serum zinc levels. Conclusion: Picky eating is associated with lower weight for age, hemoglobin levels, and vitamin D levels, thereby suggesting that picky eating can lead to a wide range of nutritional deficiencies beyond just zinc deficiency.

Routine addition of zinc to the parenteral fluid formula is not able to prevent zinc deficiency in all patients receiving parenteral nutrition

Abstract Background Zinc deficiency is associated with poor wound healing, skin lesions, alopecia, etc. It is common in malnourished patients. Although parenteral nutrition (PN) has anabolic effect; however, lack of zinc supplement for a long period might result in zinc deficiency. The aim of the study is to calculate the incidence of zinc deficiency and the correlation to multiple nutritional parameters. Methods This is a retrospective analysis of patients who received PN and were under care of nutrition support service of Mackay Memorial Hospital from 1995 to 2020. Zinc serum level less than 800 μg/L were considered zinc deficiency. All patients had evaluation of nutrition status by assessing of albumin, total lymphocyte count (TLC), and midarm circumference (MAC). Results Data were analyzed by analysis of variance. A P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. A total of 3854 patients received PN during this period, 18 of them had zinc level less than 800 μg/L. In those 18 patients, 12 of them had clinical symptoms and signs of zinc deficiency. The average day of receiving PN for patients was 74.4 ± 62.5 (14–204) days. The average day of appearance of symptoms was 11 ± 12.3 (1–43) days. Eleven patients received blood or plasma transfusion during this period. It was found that serum zinc level did not correlate with serum albumin, TLC, and MAC. Conclusions Zinc deficiency could occur in patients with PN and adequate supply of calorie. It also occurs in patients with extra loss such as discharges from enterocutaneous fistula even in patients with supply of daily requirement of zinc. Zinc deficiency does not correlate with serum albumin, TLC, MAC, or age.

Comparing the Genetic Detox Ability and Heavy Metal Burden in a Cohort of Samples of Egyptian Children and those with Autistic Spectrum Disorder

The heavy metal burden of patients with Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has been widely discussed [1-5]. Present knowledge suggests that ASD patients, compared to ‘normal’s’ show a greater metal burden, which may be a cause of the ASD pathogenesis, possibly due to a limited detoxification potential. We thus aimed to evaluate if the metal burden of ASD children is due to comprised detoxification ability, and if missing of enzymes such as the glutathione-S-transferases provide an explanation, or if additional factors play a role. Genetically, we noticed a slight difference in the detoxification ability of the ASD group compared to the Control group. In the ASD group, carrier of the genotype GSTT1 null genotype (i.e. the homozygous loss) are 1.7 times more common as in the Control group and the GSTT1 allele is more frequent in the ASD patient collective. These findings are not statistically significant but indicate a trend. In addition, our data indicates that levels of potentially toxic metals in blood and hair of both groups demonstrate a similar immediate and long-term exposure. However, 36% of the ASD group showed signs of zinc deficiency compared to 11% of the Control group and this points towards inefficiency of the Phase I detoxification pathway. More research is needed to explore the role of other elements in the detoxification pathway.

Foliar application of zinc and its effect on greenhouse grown cucumber

The experiment was conducted to examine the effect of the foliar application of zinc on yield and crop quality and on fruit mineral composition of cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus cv. Mustang) which were grown in peat in containers under unheated conditions and were not showing visible signs of zinc deficiency.
 In the trial the following 3 treatments were set up in 4 replications: Znl = 0.35 g/litre Zn, as foliar fertilizer; Zn2 = 0.7 g/litre Zn, as foliar fertilizer, control = no foliar fertilization. Foliar fertilization was applied 5 times with 10 day intervals. After their planting out the plants were fertigated daily with water soluble complex fertilisers. Fruits were harvested twice a week, 16 times in all, and were divided into three quality classes (class I, class II and substandard). Shoot length of the plants (plant height) was measured on 3 occasions. Zinc content of the fruits and leaves was analysed at two times.
 From the results of the trials it can be concluded that the 0.35 g/litre Zn (0.35 mg/ml) foliar fertilisation had beneficial effect on cucumber both in terms of yield and quality. Under the conditions of the experiment (daily fertigation through drip irrigation) the effect of a more concentrated foliar application of zinc seemed less beneficial.
 The zinc content of the fruits showed no evident increase in response to foliar fertilization, while a significant increase was seen in the leaves, particularly with the more concentrated Zn treatment. This indicates that in the case of cucumber zinc, through its assimilation in vegetative parts, has an indirect effect on fruit development.

Therapeutic Efficacy of Zinc Sulphate Used in Clustered Model Treatment in Alleviating Zinc Deficiency in Cattle and Its Effect on Hormones, Vitamins and Production Parameters

A survey was conducted in 10 districts of northern India. Significant deficiency of zinc was observed in soil, fodders and (cattle) serum samples. The animals showed typical signs of zinc deficiency, namely stiff gait, swelling of hocks and knees, subcutaneous fluid accumulation, rough coat, etc. of variable intensity. A clustered model therapeutic trial was conducted and zinc-deficient cattle were divided into three groups. Group A was provided with mineral mixture containing zinc sulphate. Group B was given mineral mixture without zinc sulphate and group C was given no mineral mixture. Significant improvement (p < 0.01) was observed in the haemoglobin (Hb), total white blood cells (WBC) and total erythrocyte count (TEC) levels at the 7th day of treatment in the animals of group A. Significant improvement in enzyme serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP) was observed in group A animals at the 7th day, while improvement in asparatate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and ceruloplasmin (Cp) was observed after 21 days of treatment. Regarding hormones, significant improvement was observed in thyroxine (T3) and triiodothyronine (T4), oestrogen and progesterone in group A animals within 14 days of treatment. The values of vitamin A showed a highly significant (p < 0.01) improvement within 7 days of treatment in group A animals and that of vitamin E on the 21 st day of treatment. The milk yield of lactating cattle and body weight of growing calves in group A showed highly significant (p < 0.01) increases at about 14 and 30 days, respectively. It is concluded that zinc sulphate supplementation is highly effective in alleviating zinc deficiency and improving various biochemical and production parameters in cattle. The clustered model treatment provides a better indicator of the most limiting element under field conditions where simultaneous deficiency of various minerals is prevalent.

Role of Zinc in Plasma Membrane Function

The concentration of plasma zinc is the generally accepted index of zinc status. Although low plasma zinc is an essential criterion of deficiency, alone it is inadequate. To supplement this index, we sought to determine the first limiting biochemical defect in animals fed zinc-deficient diets and concluded that the limiting function is associated with a posttranslational change in plasma membrane proteins. Among the signs of zinc deficiency in rats is a bleeding tendency associated with failure of platelet aggregation, a phenomenon that correlates with impaired uptake of Ca(2+) when stimulated. Zinc-deficient guinea pigs exhibit signs of peripheral neuropathy, and their brain synaptic vesicles exhibit impaired Ca(2+) uptake when they are stimulated with glutamate. Red cells from zinc-deficient rats show increased osmotic fragility associated with decreased plasma membrane sulfhydryl concentration. Both phenomena are readily reversed (2 d) by dietary zinc repletion. Volume recovery is dependent on Ca-dependent K channels and the sulfhydryl redox state. Both the impaired aggregation and calcium uptake of zinc-deficient platelets are corrected by in vitro incubation of blood with glutathione. Considering the fact that plasma membranes from several cell types show impaired function that is associated with a decreased rate of calcium uptake, it is postulated that a defect in calcium channels is the first limiting biochemical defect in zinc deficiency. The calcium uptake defect and consequent impaired second-messenger function likely results from an abnormal sulfhydryl redox state in the membrane channel protein.

Serum, Leucocyte, Sweat and Hair Zinc Levels—a Correlational Study

Zinc status is difficult to assess, and much emphasis has been placed on serum zinc levels. However, the distribution of zinc in the human body suggests that serum zinc will not be a good indicator of zinc status. The use of zinc measurements in red cells, leucocytes, hair, urine and sweat samples is discussed. Measurements of sweat zinc concentration were performed on two adult control groups (n=30 and n=53) and on 145 children aged from 2 to 15 years. The reference ranges for sweat zinc were established. A comparison is made of hair, leucocyte, serum and sweat zinc levels in 10 people with normal hair zinc, 10 with low hair zinc, 4 with high hair zinc and 16 with clinical signs of zinc deficiency. The results demonstrate that sweat zinc is the sample of choice for the assessment of zinc status and that leucocyte zinc is almost as useful. Serum zinc is unreliable except in severe deficiencies and the danger of relying on serum zinc to exclude a diagnosis of deficiency is emphasized.

Fibre and phytate

The possibility that diets with high fibre levels could lead to mineral deficiency states in human populations was first recognised in Iran and other parts of the Middle East. In rural communities where the main source of energy was an unleavened, whole‐grain bread called tanok, male adolescents were observed to exhibit poor appetites, marked growth retardation and hypogonadism, all signs of zinc deficiency. The zinc content of the diets was adequate, but the availability of zinc for absorption was inhibited by the presence of dietary fibre and phytate.

The production of zinc deficiency in the guinea pig

A diet which contained less than 1 μg Zn per g was eaten readily by guinea pigs. No signs of zinc deficiency were produced unless the animals were deprived of access to zinc-supplemented solid food from birth and were maintained on grid floors to prevent coprophagy or ingestion of sawdust bedding material. At an early stage of deficiency, plasma zinc concentration, food intake and growth were reduced and large regular variations of food intake (food cycling) were observed. More severe deficiency produced decreases in the zinc content of other tissues and characteristic epidermal lesions. The requirement of guinea pigs for zinc for growth is probably about 2·5 μg per g feed which is much lower than for calves, rats and pigs.

Maternal and fetal plasma zinc in pre-eclampsia

Zinc is important for fetal growth and is involved in several important enzyme systems. Maternal and umbilical plasma zinc concentrations were determined in 52 parturient women with mild and severe pre-eclampsia, and were compared with those obtained from 20 women in labor whose pregnancies had progressed normally. A decrease in maternal as well as umbilical plasma zinc concentrations was observed in pre-eclamptic women, and this decrease was statistically significant in severe pre-eclampsia. The causes of these changes in plasma zinc concentrations in pre-eclampsia were discussed, and the possible adverse effects of zinc deficiency on the mother and fetus were mentioned. Low plasma zinc concentrations in pre-eclampsia may be a sign of zinc deficiency, implying possible risks to the mother and her fetus. It is recommended that maintenance of adequate dietary zinc nutrition during pregnancy, and particularly in pre-eclampsia, is important.

Hepatic drug metabolism in zinc-deficient rats

The rates of metabolism in vitro of pentobarbital, aminopyrine and p-nitrobenzoic acid were significantly reduced and the duration of action of pentobarbital in vivo was prolonged in zinc-deficient rats. Zinc deficiency did not result in an alteration in the rate of aromatic ring hydroxylaiion in vitro, with either aniline or zoxazolamine as substrate. Microsomal protein and RNA levels were maintained during zinc depletion, but a significant decrease in the cytochrome P-450 content of the microsomes was noted in zinc-deficient rats at approximately the same time as the lower rate in metabolism of pentobarbital was found. Biochemical lesions and gross signs of zinc deficiency were completely ameliorated by refeeding zinc-deficient rats a zinc-containing diet for 14 days.