Hair Zinc content and its relation to Serum Zinc level in children with Idiopathic Epilepsy

Objective to measure the level of hair zinc, as well as its level in serum, in patients with epilepsy and compare them to the levels found in non-epileptic age and gender matched children, and to explore any potential correlation between either serum or hair level of magnesium and seizure characteristics in children with idiopathic epilepsy. Methods An observational cross-sectional study including 50 children with idiopathic epilepsy and 100 non-epileptic age and gender matched control subjects. Cases were subjected to full history taking, examination and measurements of serum and hair levels of zinc, control subjects only had their serum and hair level of zinc measured as for the cases. Results The mean serum zinc was 1.13 (0.61 - 1.69) ug/ml for cases and 1.81 (0.75 - 3) ug/ml for controls and the median hair level of zinc was 116.58 ug/g with IQR of 74.97 - 176.58 for cases and 143.64 ug/g with IQR of 95.22 - 178.28 for controls. Serum zinc level was significantly lower in cases compared to controls, but the difference was not statistically significant for hair zinc. No statistically significant correlation was observed between either hair or serum levels of zinc and seizure characteristics. Conclusion Serum zinc levels are reduced in epileptic patients compared to healthy age and gender matched controls. Hair zinc levels do not seem to be affected in idiopathic epilepsy. Studies involving larger numbers of patients are needed to confirm these results.

The Relationship between Hair Zinc Levels and Drug-resistant Epilepsy in Children at Sanglah Hospital

BACKGROUND: Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) is epilepsy that is failed to achieve free of seizure after adequate trials of two tolerated and appropriately chosen antiepileptic drugs. Zinc deficiency could trigger the onset of various neurological disorders, including seizures in epilepsy. AIM: The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between hair zinc levels and DRE in children at Sanglah Hospital, Denpasar. METHODS: This is an analytic observational study using a cross-sectional design, involving 74 subjects. The inclusion criteria were children aged 1 month–18 years who had been diagnosed with epilepsy. Chi-square test and multivariate analysis with logistic regression were used to assess the relation between hair zinc levels and DRE in children. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis found a relationship between low hair zinc level and DRE in children (PR 8.0; 95% CI 2.0–32.2; p = 0.003). The duration of therapy (PR 16.0; 95% CI 3.9–65.4; p = 0.000) and structural abnormalities (PR 4.1; 95% CI 1.1–14.9; p = 0.028) also increased the risk of DRE in this study. CONCLUSION: Low hair zinc level is associated with DRE in children.

Zinc absorption and zinc status are reduced after either sleeve gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in premenopausal women with severe obesity studied prospectively over 24 postoperative months

ABSTRACT Background Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) is known to reduce zinc absorption; the effects of vertical sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and its long-term implications on zinc absorption have not yet been studied. Objective The aim was to evaluate the effects of SG and RYGBP on zinc absorption and zinc status in premenopausal women with severe obesity up to 24 mo after surgery. Methods Twenty-six premenopausal women undergoing SG [BMI (in kg/m2): 37.3 ± 3.2] and 32 undergoing RYGBP (BMI: 42.0 ± 4.2) were studied. A series of anthropometric, dietary, and zinc status parameters (plasma and hair zinc), and the size of the exchangeable zinc pool (EZP), as well as percentage zinc absorption from a standardized dose using a stable isotope methodology were evaluated in the patients before the surgical procedure and at 12 and 24 mo after SG or RYGBP. SG patients received 15 mg and RYGBP received 25 mg of supplemental Zn/d. Results In premenopausal women, zinc absorption was decreased by 71.9% and 52.0% in SG and RYGBP, respectively, 24 mo postsurgery, compared with initial values. According to 2-factor repeated-measures ANOVA, time effect was significant (P = <0.0001), but not time × group interaction (P = 0.470). Plasma zinc below the cutoff point of 70 µg/dL increased from 0 to 15.4% and 38.1% in SG and RYGBP, respectively. Mean EZP was significantly reduced 24 mo after surgery, although no time × group interactions were observed. Hair zinc did not change across time or between groups. Conclusions Both SG and RYGBP have profound effects on zinc absorption capacity, which are not compensated for after 24 mo. Although zinc absorption reduction was similar in both types of surgeries, plasma zinc was more affected in RYGBP than SG, despite greater zinc supplementation in RYGBP. This trial was registered at http://www.isrctn.com as ISRCTN31937503.

Plasma and Nail Zinc Concentrations, But Not Hair Zinc, Respond Positively to Two Different Forms of Preventive Zinc Supplementation in Young Laotian Children: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Plasma zinc concentrations (PZC) have been shown to significantly increase during zinc supplementation. This study investigated the effects of daily preventive zinc supplementation on hair and nail zinc concentrations compared with a control group. In a randomized controlled trial, 6- to 23-month-old children (n = 3407) in Lao PDR were randomly assigned to one of four groups and followed for ~ 36 weeks: daily preventive zinc dispersible tablet (7 mg/d; PZ), daily micronutrient powder (10 mg zinc/d; MNP), therapeutic zinc supplements for diarrhea treatment (20 mg/d for 10 days; TZ), or daily placebo powder (Control). Plasma, hair, and nail zinc concentrations were assessed in a sub-sample of participants (n = 457) at baseline and endline. At baseline, 75% of children had low PZC (< 65 μg/dL). At endline, geometric mean (95% CI) PZC were greater in the PZ and MNP groups compared with the TZ and control groups (P < 0.01), but hair zinc concentrations did not differ among groups (P = 0.99). Nail zinc concentrations were marginally higher in the PZ (115.8 (111.6, 119.9) μg/g) and the MNP (117.8 (113.3, 122.3) μg/g) groups than in the TZ group (110.4 (106.0, 114.8) μg/g; P = 0.055) at endline. This study does not support the use of hair zinc as a biomarker of zinc exposure in young children. However, it provides some evidence that zinc concentrations in nails may respond to supplemental zinc interventions and supports the need for collecting additional data on this emerging biomarker.

Correlation between hair zinc level and cognitive function in elderly population

Introduction: Neurodegenerative disease is the most problem in elderly. Amyloid β (Aβ) accumulation is the major cause of cognitive impairment. Zinc has an important role in antioxidant and Aβ accumulation process. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between hair zinc level and cognitive function in elderly.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted involving 58 subjects of elderly in Jakarta. Subjects were recruited by consecutive sampling. Hair zinc level was measured by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer (ICPS) and cognitive function assessed by abbreviated mental test (AMT). Data analysis was done by spearman rank correlation test and p-value less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.Results: The mean of age was 65.4 ± 4.4 years old and 56.9% of subjects were female. The mean of hair zinc level was 123.23 ± 69.71 µg/gram hair and 32.8% subjects had hair zinc deficiency. There was 91.4% subjects had normal cognitive function. The study showed no correlation between hair zinc level and cognitive function in elderly (p=0.871 ; r=-0.022).Conclusions: There was no correlation between hair zinc level and cognitive function in elderly. Further research is expected to be performed with different level of cognitive function.Keywords: cognitive, elderly, hair zinc level, zinc.

Determinant of Maternal and Hair Zinc Level on Stunting and Developmental Disorders in Under Five Aged Children: A Path Analysis

ABSTRACT Background: Stunting can cause various developmental problems in children under five. Stunting can reduce a person productivity at a young age and increase the risks of developing non-communicable diseases when older. This study aimed to determine of maternal and hair zinc level on stunting and developmental disorders in under five aged children. Subjects and Method: This was a case study conducted at Gurah Public Health Center, Kediri Regency, East java, August 4-29, 2020. approach with a fixed disease sampling technique. A sample size of 100 subjects was selected by simple random sampling. The dependent variable was stunting and developmental disorders. The independent variables were pregnant women Mid-Upper Arm Circumference, exclusive breastfeeding, LBW, birth length, hair zinc level. The data were collected by questionnaire, measuring height and weight and checking hair zinc levels in the laboratory. The data were analyzed by path analysis. Results: Child development was influenced by Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (b= 0.12; SE= 0.36; p< 0.001), birth weight (b= 0.29; SE= 0.15; p= 0.042); birth length (b= 0.37; SE= 0.15; p= 0.011), breastfeeding (b= 0.08; SE= 0.04; p= 0.033), stunting (b= 0.39; SE= 0.10; p <0.001), hair zinc levels (b= 0.58; SE= 0.67; p <0.001). Hair zinc levels were affected by birth weight (b= 0.92; SE= 0.04; p <0.001). Stunting was affected by breastfeeding (b= 0.12; SE= 0.04; p <0.001); birth length (b= 0.73; SE= 0.06; p <0.001), zinc levels (b= 0.16; SE= 0.06; p= 0.006) Conclusion: Child development was influenced by Mid-Upper Arm Circumference, birth weight, birth length, breastfeeding, stunting, hair zinc levels. Hair zinc levels were affected by birth weight. Stunting was affected by breastfeeding, birth length, zinc levels. Keywords: maternal determinant factor, hair zinc level, predictor of stunting, developmental disorder Correspondence: Nunik Ike Yunia Sari. School of Health Sciences Karya Husada Kediri. Email: [email protected]. Mobile: +6282257969278. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26911/the7thicph.03.34