Zinc Deficiency Research Articles

Conventional and Nano-Zinc Foliar Spray Strategies to Improve the Physico-Chemical Properties and Nutritional and Antioxidant Compounds of Timor Mango Fruits under Abiotic Stress

Zinc deficiency is common under heat stress, and further research is needed to determine how to enhance the fruit quality of mango trees through the use of three forms of zinc, namely Zn-NPs, zinc sulfate (ZnSO4), and chelated zinc (Zn-chelated), as a foliar spray. This research was carried out using ten treatments to investigate the effect of zinc forms on the fruit quality of Timor mango trees. With a few notable exceptions, every fruit quality measurement (physical characteristics, chemical properties, mineral contents, and antioxidant compounds) responded to every treatment looked into; however, the extent of the reaction differed depending on the fruiting measurement. Furthermore, the Zn-NPs created a larger difference in the fruiting measurements than the ZnSO4 and Zn-chelated forms. ZnO NPs at 100 ppm ranked first, followed by ZnO NPs in the first spray and zinc EDTA in the second spray, followed by ZnO NPs in the first spray and ZnSO4 in the second, for all mineral content and antioxidant compound measurements and most of the fruit physico-chemical characteristics. In contrast, the lowest levels of minerals and antioxidant compounds and most of the fruit physico-chemical characteristics were found in the controls. The outcomes of the other treatments after the three treatments lay somewhere between these two extremes, and this pattern was detected throughout two seasons. Spraying Timor mango trees with nano, chelated, and sulfate zinc can be considered a safe and environmentally friendly natural method for improving fruit quality in abiotic stress regions.

Comparison of zinc supplementation versus placebo in addition to standard therapy for management of children with pneumonia

Comparison of zinc supplementation versus placebo in addition to standard therapy for management of children with pneumonia

The effects of zinc supplementation on body fat mass in hemodialysis patients: An open-label randomized controlled trial.

Zinc deficiency is highly prevalent in HD patients. On the other hand, it remains unknown about the role of zinc in their nutritional status. We conducted an open-label randomized controlled trial. We investigated (i) the relationship between serum zinc levels and body composition and (ii) the effects of zinc supplementation on the composition of 48 HD patients with zinc deficiency. Serum zinc levels were significantly correlated with body fat weight (p < 0.01), but not with nonfat tissue weight. Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that serum zinc levels were a significant independent predictor of body fat weight (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the weight of body fat significantly increased in the group that received 1-year zinc supplementation (p < 0.05), but not in the group that did not. Our findings indicate that zinc deficiency plays an important role in fat metabolism in HD patients with its deficiency.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the ZRT, IRT-like Protein (ZIP) family in Nicotiana tabacum.

Iron (Fe) and Zinc (Zn) are essential micronutrients for plant growth and development. ZIP (ZRT, IRT-like protein) transporters, known for their role in the regulation of Zinc and Iron uptake, are pivotal in facilitating the absorption, transport, and maintenance of Fe/Zn homeostasis in plants. Nicotiana tabacum has been widely used as a model plant for gene function analysis; however, the tobacco ZIP genes have not been identified systematically. In this study, we have identified a comprehensive set of 32 NtZIP genes, which were phylogenetically categorized into three distinct clades. The gene structures, characterized by their exon/intron organization, and the protein motifs are relatively conserved, particularly among genes within the same clade. These NtZIP genes exhibit an uneven distribution across 12 chromosomes. The gene localization analysis revealed the presence of 11 pairs of homeologous locus genes and 7 pairs of tandem duplication genes within the genome. To further explore the functionality of these genes, Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) was employed to assess their expression levels in roots subjected to metal deficiency. The results indicated that certain NtZIP genes are specifically upregulated in response to either Fe or Zn deficiency. Additionally, the presence of specific cis-elements within their promoter regions, such as the E-box associated with Fe deficiency response and the ZDRE box linked to Zn deficiency response, was identified. This study lays a foundational groundwork for future research into the biological functions of NtZIP genes in tobacco in micronutrient regulation and homeostasis.

Novel Insights into Ethanol-Soluble Oyster Peptide-Zinc-Chelating Agents: Structural Characterization, Chelation Mechanism, and Potential Protection on MEHP-Induced Leydig Cells.

Numerous studies have reported that mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) (bioactive metabolite of Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) has inhibitory effects on Leydig cells. This study aims to prepare an oyster peptide-zinc complex (PEP-Zn) to alleviate MEHP-induced damage in Leydig cells. Zinc-binding peptides were obtained through the following processes: zinc-immobilized affinity chromatography (IMAC-Zn2+), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry technology (LC-MS/MS) analysis, molecular docking, molecular dynamic simulation, and structural characterization. Then, the Zn-binding peptide (PEP) named Glu-His-Ala-Pro-Asn-His-Asp-Asn-Pro-Gly-Asp-Leu (EHAPNHDNPGDL) was identified. EHAPNHDNPGDL showed the highest zinc-chelating ability of 49.74 ± 1.44%, which was higher than that of the ethanol-soluble oyster peptides (27.50 ± 0.41%). In the EHAPNHDNPGDL-Zn complex, Asn-5, Asp-7, Asn-8, His-2, and Asp-11 played an important role in binding to the zinc ion. Additionally, EHAPNHDNPGDL-Zn was found to increase the cell viability, significantly increase the relative activity of antioxidant enzymes and testosterone content, and decrease malondialdehyde (MDA) content in MEHP-induced TM3 cells. The results also indicated that EHAPNHDNPGDL-Zn could alleviate MEHP-induced apoptosis by reducing the protein level of p53, p21, and Bax, and increasing the protein level of Bcl-2. These results indicate that the zinc-chelating peptides derived from oyster peptides could be used as a potential dietary zinc supplement.

Classifying adaxial and abaxial sides of diseased citrus leaves with selected hyperspectral bands and YOLOv8

Huanglongbing (HLB; citrus greening) and citrus canker are invasive diseases afflicting Florida citrus groves, causing financial losses through yield loss, smaller fruit, blemishes, premature fruit drop and/or eventual tree death. Often, symptoms of these diseases resemble those of other disease or disorders. Early detection of HLB and canker via in-grove leaf inspection can permit more effective mitigation tactics and management of groves. Autonomous, vision-based disease scouting in a grove offers a financial benefit to the Florida citrus industry. This study investigates the potential of hyperspectral reflectance imagery (HSI) for detecting and classifying these conditions in the presence of other, less consequential leaf defects. Leaves with visible symptoms of HLB, canker, zinc deficiency, scab, melanose, greasy spot, and a control set were collected and both sides were imaged with a line-scan hyperspectral camera. Spectral bands from this imagery were selected using two methods: an unsupervised method based on principal component analysis (PCA), a supervised method based on linear discriminant analysis (LDA), which were compared with randomly selected bands as a control. The YOLOv8 network architecture was trained to classify each side of these leaves with each band combination. LDA-selected bands from the front of the leaves yielded an overall classification accuracy of 87.09 %, with higher recall of melanose and precision of control than any other model tested. Leaves with HLB and zinc deficiency were classified most accurately, with both band selection methods yielding F1 scores of at least 0.955 and 0.934, respectively. These findings favor the use of supervised band selection for HSI-based in-grove disease detection.

Pre- and Postnatal Vitamin A Deficiency Impairs Motor Skills without a Consistent Effect on Trace Mineral Status in Young Mice

Pregnant women and children are vulnerable to vitamin A deficiency (VAD), which is often compounded by concurrent deficiencies in other micronutrients, particularly iron and zinc, in developing countries. The study investigated the effects of early-life VAD on motor and cognitive development and trace mineral status in a mouse model. C57BL/6J dams were fed either a vitamin A-adequate (VR) or -deficient (VD) diet across two consecutive gestations and lactations. Offspring from both gestations (G1 and G2) continued the same diets until 6 or 9 weeks of age. Behavioral assays were conducted to evaluate motor coordination, grip strength, spatial cognition, and anxiety. Hepatic trace minerals were analyzed. A VD diet depleted hepatic retinoids and reduced plasma retinol across all ages and gestations. Retracted rear legs and abnormal gait were the most common clinical manifestations observed in VD offspring from both gestations at 9 weeks. Poor performance on the Rotarod test further confirmed their motor dysfunction. VAD didn’t affect hemoglobin levels and had no consistent effect on hepatic trace mineral concentrations. These findings highlight the critical role of vitamin A in motor development. There was no clear evidence that VAD alters the risk of iron deficiency anemia or trace minerals.

Geochemical Interaction and Bioavailability of Zinc in Soil Under Long‐Term Integrated Nutrient Management in Pearl Millet–Wheat System

ABSTRACTThe degree and severity of zinc (Zn) deficiency in soil reduced the agricultural yield and quality, thus encouraging malnutrition in humans worldwide. The study was hypothesized to increase the bioavailability and release of Zn in soil and Zn biofortification in wheat grains under integrated nutrient management (INM). The long‐term (54 years) experiment laid out in a split‐plot design comprising single (W) and dual (PW) applications of farmyard manure (FYM) (0, 5, 10, and 15 Mg ha−1) and nitrogen (0, 60, and 120 kg ha−1) was studied to understand the distribution of different Zn fractions in soil and their relationship to wheat grain yield and Zn uptake. A laboratory incubation study was performed on surface soils to evaluate the release kinetics of native Zn at field capacity. The different fractions of Zn in soil increased with increasing frequency and levels of FYM application. Residual Zn constituted the maximum proportion (89.03%) of total soil Zn. A high positive correlation (p &lt; 0.01) of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)‐extractable Zn and total grain Zn content were observed with different Zn fractions. The release kinetics of native soil Zn increased up to 10 days and became almost constant, indicating the establishment of chemical equilibria between the soil solid and solution phase. Thus, long‐term INM ensured higher wheat production (6.08 Mg ha−1) and Zn biofortification (38.95 mg kg−1) to combat Zn malnutrition and achieve the United Nations’ sustainable development goals on “zero hunger” and “good health and well‐being.”

Xenotransplanted human organoids identify transepithelial zinc transport as a key mediator of intestinal adaptation

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) leads to severe morbidity and mortality. Intestinal adaptation is crucial in improving outcomes. To understand the human gene pathways associated with adaptation, we perform single-cell transcriptomic analysis of human small intestinal organoids explanted from mice with experimental SBS. We show that transmembrane ion pathways, specifically the transepithelial zinc transport pathway genes SLC39A4 and SLC39A5, are upregulated in SBS. This discovery is corroborated by an external dataset, bulk RT-qPCR, and Western blots. Oral zinc supplementation is shown to improve survival and weight gain of SBS mice and increase the proliferation of intestinal crypt cells in vitro. Finally, we identify the upregulation of SLC39A5 and associated transcription factor KLF5 in biopsied intestinal tissue specimens from patients with SBS. Thus, we identify zinc supplementation as a potential therapy for SBS and describe a xenotransplantation model that provides a platform for discovery in other intestinal diseases.

Dietary zinc status is associated with ZnT3 (SLC30A3), IL-6 gene expressions and spinal cord tissue damage in spinal cord tissue in a cuprizone-induced rat Multiple Sclerosis model

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary zinc status on spinal cord tissue damage and ZnT3, IL-6 gene expressions in a cuprizone-induced rat Multiple Sclerosis (MS) model. The study was carried out on 46 adult male rats of the genus Wistar. The animals used in the study were divided into 5 groups (G) (Control 6, other groups 10). G1, Control. G2, Sham-MS: Carboxy-methyl-cellulose (KMS) solution in which Cuprizon was dissolved was given to rats by gavage daily for 8 weeks at the rate of 1 % of daily feed consumption. MS was formed by giving 1 % of the daily feed consumption cuprizon in KMS solution by gavage to the animals in G3, 4 and 5 for 8 weeks. G4 was fed with a zinc deficient (50 µg/kg zinc) diet. G5 was given intraperitoneal (ip) zinc sulfate (5 mg/kg/day) supplementation. MS formation in animals was determined by Rotarod tests and Myelin Basic Protein (MBP) gene expression analysis. ZNT3 and IL-6 gene expression levels in spinal cord tissue samples of animals by Real-Time-PCR method; MDA and GSH levels were determined by ELISA method. The highest spinal cord MDA and IL-6 levels were obtained in G3 and G4 (P<0.05). Zinc supplementation in G5 prevented the increase in the mentioned parameters and turned them into control values (P<0.05). The spinal cord GSH and ZnT3 levels of G3 and G4 were lower than all other groups (P<0.05). Zinc supplementation prevented suppression in the same parameters in G5 and reached the control values (P<0.05). The findings of the current study suggest that zinc supplementation in addition to treatment for MS may be beneficial in reducing the severity of the disease.

7866 Efficacy of Zinc and Myoinositol Supplementation on Metabolic Parameters In A Pediatric Population With Obesity: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Disclosure: V. Antoniotti: None. V. Mancioppi: None. A. Solito: None. C. Partenope: None. A. Petri: None. I. Rabbone: None. L. Scotti: None. F. Prodam: None. Background: In the last decades, pediatric obesity and cardiovascular-associated risks have been relevant challenges. The first treatment against obesity is a lifestyle change, nevertheless, no intervention seems to be effective in the evolution of the condition, especially in the long term. Thus, the interest in non-pharmaceutical as well as pharmaceutical compounds is growing. Inositol compounds have recently been studied in adults with obesity and insulin resistance but have never been investigated in the pediatric age where insulin resistance is a specific trait of puberty. Furthermore, zinc is critical for insulin secretion and growth. Methods. This is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study aiming to explore the efficacy of 3 months of combined administration of Zinc (5 mg/die) and Myo-inositol (2000 mg/die) in children and adolescents with obesity. 56 patients aged 10- 17.9 years (starting from Tanner 3) with obesity and insulin resistance have been enrolled. The treatment group received 5 mg of Zinc, 2000 mg of Myo-inositol, and 1000 mg of galactooligosaccharides from Pisum sativum, while the placebo group only received 1000 mg of galactooligosaccharides from Pisum sativum. All patients were subjected to an isocaloric diet following the Mediterranean diet style consisting of 55% carbohydrates, 30-35% fat, and 15% protein. Clinical and biochemical evaluations were carried out for the determination of weight, lipid profile, liver function, and glucose-insulin metabolism. Results. At the end of the study, BMI, fasting insulin, and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were significantly improved in both groups, while the treatment group also had an increase in HDL cholesterol (p=0.0426). On the other hand, the placebo group significantly improved its eating habits showing greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet than the treatment group. Moreover, subjects were divided according to the degree of obesity. Fasting insulin (p= 0.0137), HOMA-IR (p= 0.0273), and systolic blood pressure (p= 0.0349) showed a significant improvement in treated patients with severe obesity compared to treated patients with low-grade obesity. Thus, subjects with a higher level of obesity respond better to both treatment and lifestyle change than those with a lower grade of obesity. Also, the improvement of the lifestyle and the presence of fiber allow an increase in the metabolic framework in placebo subjects. Conclusions. Supplementation with Zinc and Myo-inositol could be used as a non-pharmacological compound for the control of complications related to obesity also in the pediatric age. Presentation: 6/1/2024

Dietary zinc supplementation inhibits bacterial plasmid conjugation in vitro by regulating plasmid replication (rep) and transfer (tra) genes.

Humans use dietary supplements for several intended effects, such as supplementing malnutrition. While these compounds have been developed for host end benefits, their ancillary impact on the gut microbiota remains unclear. The human gut has been proposed as a reservoir for the prevalent lateral transfer of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes in bacteria through plasmid conjugation. Here, we studied the effect of dietary zinc supplements on the incidence of plasmid conjugation in vitro. Supplement effects were analyzed through standardized broth conjugation assays. The avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) strain APEC-O2-211 was a donor of the multidrug resistance plasmid pAPEC-O2-211A-ColV, and the human commensal isolate E. coli HS-4 was the plasmid-free recipient. Bacterial strains were standardized and mixed 1:1 and supplemented 1:10 with water, or zinc derived from either commercial zinc supplements or zinc gluconate reagent at varying concentrations. We observed a significant reduction in donors, recipients, and transconjugant populations in conjugations supplemented with zinc, with a dose-dependent relationship. Additionally, we observed a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in log conjugation efficiency in zinc-treated reactions. Upregulation of the mRNA for the plasmid replication initiation gene repA and the subset of transfer genes M, J, E, K, B, P, C, W, U, N, F, Q, D, I, and X was observed. Furthermore, we observed a downregulation of the conjugal propilin gene traA and the entry exclusion gene traS. This study demonstrates the effect of dietary zinc supplements on the conjugal transfer of a multidrug resistance plasmid between pathogenic and commensal bacteria during in vitro conditions.IMPORTANCEThis study identifies dietary zinc supplementation as a potential novel intervention for mitigating the emergence of multidrug resistance in bacteria, thus preventing antibiotic treatment failure and death in patients and animals. Further studies are required to determine the applicability of this approach in an in vivo model.

Leveraging machine learning for sustainable cultivation of Zn-enriched crops in Cd-contaminated karst regions

Karst soils often exhibit elevated zinc (Zn) levels, providing an opportunity to cultivate Zn-enriched crops. (meanwhile) However, these soils also frequently contain high background levels of toxic metals, particularly cadmium (Cd), posing potential health risks. Understanding the bioaccumulation of Cd and Zn and the related drivers in a high geochemical background area can provide important insights for the safe development of Zn-enriched crops. Traditional models often struggle to accurately predict metal levels in crop systems grown on soils with high geochemical background. This study employed machine learning models, including Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), to explore effective strategies for sustainable cultivation of Zn-enriched crops in karst regions, focusing on bioaccumulation factors (BAF). A total of 10,986 topsoil samples and 181 paired rhizosphere soil-crop samples, including early rice, late rice, and maize, were collected from a karst region in Guangxi. The SVM and XGBoost models demonstrated superior performance, achieving R2 values of 0.84 and 0.60 for estimating the BAFs of Zn and Cd, respectively. Key determinants of the BAFs were identified, including soil iron and manganese contents, pH level, and the interaction between Zn and Cd. By integrating these soil properties with machine learning, a framework for the safe cultivation of Zn-enriched crops was developed. This research contributes to the development of strategies for mitigating Zn deficiency in crops grown on Cd-contaminated soils.

Sirtuin Expression in Insulin-Sensitive Tissues of Rats with Impaired Glucose Tolerance is not Affected by Resistance Training or Zinc Supplementation.

While physical activity and zinc supplementation have shown benefits in diabetes management, little is known about their effect on less severe glucose homeostasis disorders, such as impaired glucose tolerance. On the other hand, sirtuins have an important role in glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity, but to date, there is no information about the impact of zinc supplementation or physical activity on their regulation in individuals with impaired glucose homeostasis. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of supplemental zinc, muscle-resistance training, and their combination on the expression of selected sirtuins in insulin-sensitive tissues of rats with impaired glucose tolerance. Thirty male Wistar rats with impaired glucose tolerance were fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks while subjected to zinc supplementation, resistance training, both, or none. Morphometric and metabolic evaluations were performed at the end of the experimental period, and gene expression of sirtuins 1, 2, 4, and 7 was assessed in liver, gastrocnemius muscle, and white adipose tissue. Results showed that zinc supplementation and/or resistance training did not improve metabolic parameters of rats with impaired glucose tolerance, nor did they affect the expression of selected sirtuins in any of the tissues evaluated. However, the expression of some sirtuins was associated with metabolic parameters in a tissue-specific manner. Additional studies are needed to evaluate whether zinc supplementation and/or resistance training can improve metabolic status or modulate sirtuins expression in advanced stages of impaired glucose homeostasis.

Effects of zinc supplementation on sleep quality in humans: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Alternative therapies, such as zinc supplementation, have been explored as potential interventions for sleep disorders. However, the efficacy of zinc supplementation inimproving sleep quality remains uncertain. This systematic review aims to examine the impacts ofzinc supplementation on sleep qualityin humans. The Web of Science, Medline, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases were comprehensively searched to find studies investigating the effect of zinc supplementation on sleep quality. After identifying relevant studies byscreening, relevant data were extracted from them. The quality assessment was conducted using the Cochrane quality assessment tool. This systematic review included eight studies. The interventions ranged from 4 to 48 weeks, with a daily dose of zinc supplementation varying between 10 and 73.3 mg. The majority of the evidence examined in this review pointed to the significant improvement effect of zinc supplementation on sleep quality in adults compared to the control groups. Furthermore, zinc supplementation did not have a significant effect on sleep disorders. However, there was no consensus about these findings. Also, the effect of supplementation on sleep duration in nonadults was contradictory. This systematic review suggests that zinc supplementation may lead to improvements in sleep quality. However, more research, primarily clinical trials, is needed to clarify the beneficial effects of zinc supplementation on sleep quality with consideration of dietary zinc intake and the Recommended Dietary Allowancesof zinc (RDA) in the different populations. It is also recommended to investigate the effect of zinc supplementation on sleep quality in people with zinc deficiency in future studies.

Association Between Serum Zinc Concentration Levels And Severity Of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) In Japanese Inpatients.

It has been reported that zinc deficiency is related to severe inflammatory conditions especially those of respiratory diseases. However, studies that have examined the association between the serum zinc concentration and the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are still limited. The aim of this study was to assess that association in Japanese inpatients with COVID-19. This cross-sectional study, conducted from April 2020 to August 2021, included 467 eligible adult inpatients with COVID-19 whose serum zinc concentration was measured. Serum zinc concentration categories were defined as deficiency (< 60μg/dL), marginal deficiency (≥ 60 to < 80μg/dL), and normal (≥ 80μg/dL). Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association between serum zinc deficiency and severe COVID-19. Serum zinc concentration levels were compared between mild and other severities of COVID-19 by Dunnett's method. The P for trend was estimated using the Jonckheere-Terpstra test. The proportions of subjects with serum zinc deficiency (< 60μg/dL) and marginal zinc deficiency (≥ 60 to < 80μg/dL) were 39.5% and 54.3% in women, and 36.4% and 57.0% in men, respectively. Serum zinc deficiency was significantly associated with severe COVID-19 compared to marginal deficiency and normal (odds ratio = 3.60, 95% confidence interval = 1.60-8.13, P < 0.01) after adjusting for confounders. An increase in severity of COVID-19 was inversely related to increases in serum zinc concentration levels (P < 0.01 for trend). Each serum zinc concentration of moderate and severe cases was also significantly lower compared with mild cases (P < 0.01). The severity of COVID-19 was significantly related to serum zinc concentration levels. These results suggest the importance of considering the serum zinc concentration when treating patients with COVID-19.

Impact of Management and Nutrition on HSP70 Gene Expression in Heat-stressed Dairy Cows

Background: This research investigated the effects of management and nutrition strategies on dairy cows under heat stress. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the effects of zinc mineral supplementation and mist spray, alone and in combination, on yield, milk production and composition, blood parameters and HSP70 gene expression in dairy cows. Methods: Sixteen Holstein lactating cows were used for our experiment in four treatment groups: Basal diet without heat stress alleviation methods (control), zinc supplementation in diet, basal diet and application of mist spray method and supplementation of zinc in basal diet with mist spray. We measured milk production and composition, blood parameters and HSP70 gene expression in all cows. Results: The results showed that the cows in the mist and zinc+mist treatments had significantly better performance and temperature-humidity index than the control group. The milk yield and its compounds were significantly affected by experimental treatments, with the best results seen in the treatment with both spray and zinc. The cows exposed to dry and lactation periods showed a significant increase in the concentration of blood biochemical factors and antioxidant indices in response to heat stress. HSP70 gene expression was significantly decreased in all treatments compared to the control. Conclusion: This experiment suggests that applying nutritional and management strategies can effectively mitigate the effects of heat stress on dairy cows. The study recommends using zinc supplementation and mist spray to alleviate heat stress effectively. Overall, this study highlights the importance of implementing management and nutrition strategies to improve the welfare and productivity of dairy cows under heat stress.

Coronavirus Disease-19-associated Mucormycosis: A Single-center Observational Study of 69 Patients.

We studied the clinical presentation, risk factors, complications, and in-hospital outcomes of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated mucormycosis (CAM). A retrospective study was done on 69 COVID-19 patients with microbiologically proven mucormycosis admitted over a period of seven months from March 2021 to September 2021. All 69 mucormycosis patients (46 males, 23 females) had reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 infection. Their mean age was 52.8 years, with mucormycosis developing in 51 patients (73.9%) within 30 days of COVID-19 infection; 7 (10.1%) were positive on admission. Rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) was the most common (40.3%), followed by rhino-orbital (37.3%) and sinonasal (22.4%). Diabetes mellitus was present in 98.6% of patients. Common symptoms of mucormycosis were facial pain, headache, facial swelling, and vision loss. During COVID-19, 88.4 and 52.5% received immunosuppressive treatment and zinc sulfate, respectively; 34.7% needed intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The mortality rate was 26.1%. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, the presence of chronic kidney disease, leukocytosis, ophthalmoplegia, oral/palate ulceration, current need for invasive ventilation, and past duration of oxygen therapy and zinc supplementation were significantly associated with mortality. Patients with current COVID-19 infection had severe disease with increased need for intensive care (57.1 vs 14.5%) and higher mortality (57.1 vs 22.6%) compared to mucormycosis patients with previous COVID-19 infection. Rhino-orbital-cerebral, rhino-orbital, and sinonasal were the most common presentations in cases of mucormycosis, with a mortality rate of 26.1%. COVID-19 coinfection predisposes patients with mucormycosis to severe disease with higher mortality.

Development of biofortified rice for reduce stunting rates in South Sumatra Province

Lack of the element Zn in the body was one of the serious problems of malnutrition in Indonesia because it reduces endurance, productivity and quality of human life, and was one of the factors causing stunting. Stunting is worrying because it can cause problems with a child's growth and development, which is characterized by the child's height being below standard. One of the factors causing stunting is reduced consumption of zinc (Zn), especially in pregnant women and children. Deficiency of the element Zn in the body can be corrected by consuming foods that contain Fe and Zn. This writing aims to inform and convey the idea that one of the efforts that can be made to reduce stunting rates is through the development of Biofortified rice which will produce nutritious rice. To evaluate the impact of rice development, an evaluation was carried out on rice production and its effect on reducing stunting in several districts in South Sumatra. The method used was interviews, recapitulation of primary and secondary data. Biofortified rice cultivation efforts had been carried out in South Sumatra since 2021 in South OKU (1000 ha), in 2022 in Lahat (1000 ha), and in 2023 in eight districts (8000 ha). In general, Biofortified rice production in South OKU Regency (5.28 tons dry Grain/ha) and Lahat Regency (5.08 tons Harvested Dry Grain/ha). Based on the 2021 Indonesian Nutritional Status Survey (INSS) saw a decrease in the average prevalence of stunting in South Sumatra in 2022 to 18.6%, which decreased from 24.8% in 2021, including in Biofortified rice development districts. Based on the fact that the development of Biofortified rice can be an effort to reduce stunting, The Regional Government was increasingly expanding rice cultivation in almost all districts/cities.

S1497 Prevalence and Impact of Zinc Deficiency on Clinical Outcomes in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

S1497 Prevalence and Impact of Zinc Deficiency on Clinical Outcomes in Inflammatory Bowel Disease