Association of zinc intake with risk of impaired physical function and frailty among older adults

Background Zinc could be a target nutrient in the prevention of physical impairment and frailty in older adults due to its anti-inflammatory/antioxidant properties. However, prospective studies evaluating this inquiry are scarce. Thus, we aimed to assess the association between zinc intake and impaired lower-extremity function (ILEF) and frailty among community-dwelling older adults. Methods We examined 2,963 adults aged ≥60 years from the Seniors-ENRICA cohort. At baseline (2008–2010) and subsequent follow-up (2012), zinc intake (mg/d) was estimated with a validated computerized face-to-face diet history and adjusted for total energy intake. From 2012 to 2017, the occurrence of ILEF was ascertained with the Short Physical Performance Battery, and of frailty according to the Fried phenotype criteria. Analyses were conducted using Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for relevant confounders, including lifestyle, comorbidity, and dietary factors. Results During follow-up, we identified 515 incident cases of ILEF and 241 of frailty. Compared to participants in the lowest tertile of zinc intake (3.99–8.36 mg/d), those in the highest tertile (9.51–21.2 mg/d) had a lower risk of ILEF [fully-adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval): 0.75 (0.58–0.97); p for trend: 0.03] and of frailty [0.63 (0.44–0.92); p for trend: 0.02]. No differences in the association were seen by strata of socio-demographic and lifestyle factors. Conclusions Higher zinc intake was prospectively associated with a lower risk of ILEF and frailty among older adults, suggesting that adequate zinc intake, that can be achieved through a healthy diet, may help preserve physical function and reduce the progression to frailty.

Zinc Exposure Promotes Commensal-to-Pathogen Transition in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Leading to Mucosal Inflammation and Illness in Mice

The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is associated gastrointestinal (GI) inflammation and illness; however, factors motivating commensal-to-pathogen transition are unclear. Excessive zinc intake from supplements is common in humans. Due to the fact that zinc exposure enhances P. aeruginosa colonization in vitro, we hypothesized zinc exposure broadly activates virulence mechanisms, leading to inflammation and illness. P. aeruginosa was treated with excess zinc and growth, expression and secretion of key virulence factors, and biofilm production were determined. Effects on invasion, barrier function, and cytotoxicity were evaluated in Caco-2 cells co-cultured with P. aeruginosa pre-treated with zinc. Effects on colonization, mucosal pathology, inflammation, and illness were evaluated in mice infected with P. aeruginosa pre-treated with zinc. We found the expression and secretion of key virulence factors involved in quorum sensing (QS), motility (type IV pili, flagella), biosurfactants (rhamnolipids), toxins (exotoxin A), zinc homeostasis (CzcR), and biofilm production, were all significantly increased. Zinc exposure significantly increased P. aeruginosa invasion, permeability and cytotoxicity in Caco-2 cells, and enhanced colonization, inflammation, mucosal damage, and illness in mice. Excess zinc exposure has broad effects on key virulence mechanisms promoting commensal-to-pathogen transition of P. aeruginosa and illness in mice, suggesting excess zinc intake may have adverse effects on GI health in humans.

STUNTING DAN ASUPAN PROTEIN BERHUBUNGAN DENGAN FUNGSI KOGNITIF BALITA

Background: Stunting and nutrients intake are the most important environmental factors for optimizing the cognitive function of toddler and closely related to the quality of life in the future. The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between stunting, nutrients intake, and cognitive function of toddler.Methods: Cross sectional study design with purposive sampling technique. Total sample was 42 toddlers aged 36-60 months. Data was collected by interview, anthropometric measurements, and SQ-FFQ. Cognitive function was measured by toddlers development questionnaire reffering to Permendiknas No. 137 of 2014 about national standard for toddler. Data was analyzed by Chi Square, Fisher’s Exact, and multiple logistic regression test.Results: 23.8% of toddlers were stunted and 21.4% were wasted. Adequate intake of toddlers include: magnesium (83.3%), protein (73.8%), and zinc (76.2%). Poor intake of toddlers was iodine (97.6%). The prevalence of poor cognitive function level was 57.1%. There were relationship between stunting (p = 0.044; OR = 10.575) and protein intake (p = 0.016; OR = 15.738) with cognitive function of toddler, which protein intake was the most dominant variable. Wasting, magnesium, and zinc intake were not associated with cognitive function of toddler.Conclution: Stunting and protein intake were related to cognitive function of toddler. Protein intake was the most dominant variable. There was no relationship between wasting, magnesium, and zinc intake with cognitive function of toddler.Keywords: Stunting; Protein intake; Toddler; Cognitive function

Mielopathy related to copper deficiency after bariatric surgery: case report / Mielopatia relacionada à deficiência de cobre após cirurgia bariátrica: relato de caso

Copper is an essential enzymatic cofactor in many stages of normal functioning of human body, acting mainly in hematological, vascular and neurological functions. Its deficiency is linked to some conditions as highly isolated oral zinc intake, parenteral nutrition and after bariatric surgery. Neurological symptoms due copper deficiency include gait abnormalities, sensitive ataxia and sensitive neuropathic symptoms. We present a case of copper deficiency myelopathy after bariatric surgery. Copper deficiency myelopathy is poorly diagnosed, being imperative the early recognition of the condition aiming better outcomes and neurological recovery.

Excretion of dietary zinc in mammals (rats) fed overdoses of zinc lactate and infected with tapeworms

Summary Tapeworms parasitize at sites that are important for the management of micronutrients, including zinc. Therefore, it has been hypothesized that tapeworms will significantly affect the excretion of zinc in the feces of a host. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects that tapeworms have on the excretion of zinc in the feces of the host. Rats were divided into 4 groups: groups 0T and MT (infected with Hymenolepis diminuta (Rudolphi, 1819)) and groups 00 and M0 (uninfected). The experimental groups (M0 and MT) were fed a standard rodent compound feed (ST-1) with added zinc lactate; the daily zinc intake was 20.5 mg. The control groups (00 and 0T) were fed only ST-1 with 1.75 mg of added Zn per day. For six weeks, the amount of consumed feed was recorded and fecal samples were taken. The samples were then analyzed by optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and levels of excreted zinc were subsequently calculated as a percentage. The most signifi cant difference in zinc excretion levels between the experimental groups was observed in the third week, when rats infected with tapeworms (MT) excreted substantially lower levels of zinc than did uninfected rats (M0). This difference amounted to 28.36 % (p <0.01). In the control groups, tapeworms affected the excretion of zinc in the feces to a lesser extent, and the most substantial difference in zinc levels was seen in the fifth week (8.46 %). However, there was no signifi cant difference in zinc excretion levels between the control groups during any of the monitored weeks. Tapeworms in the host affect levels of zinc excreted in the feces. However, this is dependent on the amount or form of zinc ingested.

Influence of Dairy Products on Bioavailability of Zinc from Other Food Products: A Review of Complementarity at a Meal Level

In this paper, we reviewed the role of dairy products in dietary zinc absorption. Dairy products can have a reasonable contribution for dietary zinc intake in Western diets, where dairy consumption is high. However, the co-ingestion of dairy products can also improve zinc absorption from other food products. Such improvements have been observed when dairy products (e.g., milk or yoghurt) were ingested together with food such as rice, tortillas or bread products, all of which are considered to be high-phytate foods with low inherent zinc absorption. For foods low in phytate, the co-ingestion of dairy products did not improve zinc absorption. Improved zinc absorption of zinc from high-phytate foods following co-ingestion with dairy products may be related to the beneficial effects of the citrate and phosphopeptides present in dairy products. Considering that the main dietary zinc sources in areas in the world where zinc deficiency is most prevalent are typically high in phytate, the inclusion of dairy products in meals may be a viable dietary strategy to improve zinc absorption.

U-shaped Association Between Dietary Zinc Intake and New-onset Diabetes: A Nationwide Cohort Study in China

Aims We aimed to investigate the relationship of dietary zinc intake with new-onset diabetes among Chinese adults. Materials and Methods A total of 16 257 participants who were free of diabetes at baseline from the China Health and Nutrition Survey were included. Dietary intake was measured by 3 consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls combined with a household food inventory. Participants with self-reported physician-diagnosed diabetes, or fasting glucose ≥ 7.0 mmol/L, or glycated hemoglobin ≥ 6.5% during the follow-up were defined as having new-onset diabetes. Results A total of 1097 participants developed new-onset diabetes during a median follow-up duration of 9.0 years. Overall, the association between dietary zinc intake and new-onset diabetes followed a U-shape (P for nonlinearity &lt; 0.001). The risk of new-onset diabetes was significantly lower in participants with zinc intake &lt; 9.1 mg/day (per mg/day: hazard ratio [HR], 0.73; 95% CI, 0.60-0.88), and higher in those with zinc intake ≥ 9.1 mg/day (per mg/day: HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.07-1.13). Consistently, when dietary zinc intake was assessed as deciles, compared with those in deciles 2-8 (8.9 -&lt;12.2 mg/day), the risk of new-onset diabetes was higher for decile 1 (&lt;8.9 mg/day: HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.04-1.62), and deciles 9 to 10 (≥12.2 mg/day: HR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.38-1.90). Similar U-shaped relations were found for plant-derived or animal-derived zinc intake with new-onset diabetes (all P for nonlinearity &lt; 0.001). Conclusions There was a U-shaped association between dietary zinc intake and new-onset diabetes in general Chinese adults, with an inflection point at about 9.1 mg/day.

Dietary Copper/Zinc Ratio and Type 2 Diabetes Risk in Women: The E3N Cohort Study

The serum copper (Cu) to zinc (Zn) ratio could be an important determinant of Type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk, but prospective epidemiological data are scarce. We aimed to investigate the association between T2D incidence and the dietary Cu/Zn ratio. A total of 70,991 women from the E3N cohort study were followed for 20 years. The intakes of copper and zinc were estimated at baseline using a validated food frequency questionnaire. We identified and validated 3292 incident T2D cases. Spline analysis showed that a Cu/Zn ratio < 0.55 was associated with a lower risk of T2D. Subgroup analyses comparing women in the highest versus the lowest quintile of Cu/Zn ratio showed the same pattern of association for obese women and those with zinc intake ≥8 mg/day. However, for women with zinc intake <8 mg/day, higher Cu/Zn ratio appeared to be associated with higher T2D risk. Our findings suggest that a lower dietary Cu/Zn ratio is associated with a lower T2D risk, especially among obese women and women with zinc intake >8 mg/day. Further studies are warranted to validate our results.