OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to investigate the kinetics of zinc in schoolchildren between the ages of 6 and 9 years, of both sexes, and to verify its sensitivity in detecting alterations in body zinc status. METHODS: Nutritional assessment was performed by body mass index. Food intake, venous zinc tolerance test, and zinc kinetics were carried out before and after 3-month oral zinc supplementation. RESULTS: Of the 42 children studied, 76.2% had healthy weight. Only energy, calcium, and fiber intake were suboptimal before and after oral zinc supplementation. Serum zinc and total-body zinc clearance, although at normal levels, increased significantly after zinc supplementation. CONCLUSION: We concluded, therefore, that kinetics is a sensitive tool for detecting changes in body zinc status, even in children without a deficiency of this mineral. Furthermore, kinetics showed a positive response to supplementation and may be a sensitive parameter for evaluating the efficacy of this therapy.
OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to investigate the kinetics of zinc in schoolchildren between the ages of 6 and 9 years, of both sexes, and to verify its sensitivity in detecting alterations in body zinc status. METHODS: Nutritional assessment was performed by body mass index. Food intake, venous zinc tolerance test, and zinc kinetics were carried out before and after 3-month oral zinc supplementation. RESULTS: Of the 42 children studied, 76.2% had healthy weight. Only energy, calcium, and fiber intake were suboptimal before and after oral zinc supplementation. Serum zinc and total-body zinc clearance, although at normal levels, increased significantly after zinc supplementation. CONCLUSION: We concluded, therefore, that kinetics is a sensitive tool for detecting changes in body zinc status, even in children without a deficiency of this mineral. Furthermore, kinetics showed a positive response to supplementation and may be a sensitive parameter for evaluating the efficacy of this therapy.
Authors: S H L Vale; L D Leite; C X Alves; M M G Dantas; J B S Costa; J S Marchini; M C França; J Brandão-Neto Journal: Eur J Clin Nutr Date: 2013-12-11 Impact factor: 4.016