Associations among dietary zinc intakes and biomarkers of zinc status before and after a zinc supplementation program in Guatemalan schoolchildren

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Vinh Q. Bui, Emory University; Jessica Marcinkevage, Emory University; Usha Ramakrishnan, Emory University; Rafael Flores-Ayala, Emory University; Manuel Ramirez-Zea, Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama; Salvador Villalpando, National Institute of Public Health; Reynaldo Martorell, Emory University; Ann M. DiGirolamo, CARE International; Aryeh Stein, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2013-06
• Publisher: United Nations University Press
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2013, The United Nations University.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://nsinf.publisher.ingentaconnect.com/content/nsinf/fnb/2013/00000034/00000002/art00003
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Food and Nutrition Bulletin -United Nations University-
• ISSN: 0379-5721
• Volume: 32
• Issue: 4
• Grant/Funding Information: This study was supported by a grant from the US National Institutes of Health (MH067981).; Zinc and placebo tablets were donated by Laboratorios Zerboni SA, Mexico City, Mexico.
• Keywords: zinc deficiency; dietary zinc intake; Albumin; serum zinc; serum alkaline phosphatase
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health; Health Sciences, Nutrition

Abstract

Background: The associations among dietary zinc intakes and biomarkers of zinc status are unknown in apparently healthy children at high risk for zinc deficiency. Objective: To assess associations among zinc-related parameters in a sample of Guatemalan school-aged children. Methods: We assessed total dietary intakes and biomarkers of zinc status before and after receiving 6 months of zinc supplementation or placebo in 691 Guatemalan schoolchildren aged 6 to 11 years. Most of the children also received zinc-fortified milk from a government program that started shortly after the trial began. We assessed associations between zinc intakes and serum zinc, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and albumin. Results: At baseline, the prevalence of serum zinc < 65 μg/dL and dietary zinc intake below Estimated Average Requirements (EAR) (< 4 and < 7 mg/day for children < 9 and ≥ 9 years, respectively) were 21.6% and 39.4%, respectively. Pearson correlations between serum zinc concentration and dietary zinc intake, serum ALP, and serum albumin were r = 0.07, 0.15, and 0.07, respectively. At the 6-month follow-up, low serum zinc and low total (diet plus fortified milk) zinc intakes were observed in 1.2% and 0.0% of children in the zinc-supplemented group and 4.0% and 34.1% in the placebo group, respectively. Pearson correlations between serum zinc concentration and total zinc intake, serum ALP, and serum albumin were 0.10, 0.06, and −0.11 in the zinc-supplemented group and −0.04, 0.05, and 0.01 in the placebo group, respectively. Conclusions: Zinc intake was inconsistently associated with markers of serum zinc concentration. Zinc fortification or supplementation attenuated the associations.