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Background: This study aims to asses the nutritional status among adolescent school girls using their serum zinc levels and to correlate it with their height. Method: This is a cross-sectional study of adolescent girls attending public secondary schools in Oshimili local govt. area of Delta state in Midwestern Nigeria. Results: The mean serum zinc level of the total population was 13.30mmol/l±5.82. Majority (58.3%) of the girls failed to attain the threshold value of 10.71mmol/l of serum zinc. The mean height of the population was 155.4cm with Standard Deviation Scores (SDS) score of -0.64±0.48, while the mean Body Mass Index (BMI) was 19.1kg/m2 ±2.91 with an SDS score of -0.54±0.47. The mean serum zinc levelof urban girls (11.05±4.66μmol/l) was significantly lower than that of rural girls (15.54±6.31μmol/l) (p = .009). There was no correlation between the mean serum zinc levels with height SDS (p=0.28) and the BMI SDS (p=0.69). Conclusion: Majority of the adolescent girls in Oshimili local Government Area of Delta State Mid western Nigeria have low serum zinc level when compared to threshold value, and there was no correlation of serum zinc with their height SDS or BMI SDS.

Background: Zinc is the crucial micronutrient that is essential for the normal embryogenesis process. It also supports fetal brain development during pregnancy, as well as with being an assist to the mother during labour. Changes in zinc homeostasis have been related to several outcomes in pregnancy including prolonged labour, fetal growth restriction, fetal death, preeclampsia, and preterm birth. Aim: Aim of this study was to evaluate the level of zinc in 1st to 3rd trimester of pregnant women. Material and Methods: The present study conducted at Department of Biochemistry and collaboration with the Department of Obs. & Gynaecology LN Medical College & J.K.Hospital. Total 300 cases attended from ANC Clinic were screened for the study. Estimation of serum zinc concentration was done by automated colorimetric kit method. Results: Findings were, that there was significantly decrease in serum zinc concentration (p<0.05) in 1st to 3rd trimester of pregnancy period. Conclusion: Zinc is most important micronutrient for the proper course of pregnancy and fetal development. Any changes in their concentrations can leads to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Therefor serum zinc concentration should be investigated, thereby reducing adverse pregnancy outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: One of the old treatment methods for unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia in neonates is blood exchange transfusion, which is expensive, possibly high-risk, and time-consuming. Today phototherapy as a novel method can be a good alternative. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the zinc level alternation after phototherapy in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia. Patients and Methods: A descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 85 infants with hyperbilirubinemia who underwent phototherapy referred to the pediatric hospital in Bandar-Abbas, Iran from 2017 to 2018. Healthy infants over two days with idiopathic jaundice with a gestational age greater than 34 weeks and only breast-feed were enrolled. Serum zinc levels were measured before and after phototherapy, and their changes were evaluated. Results: Out of 85 neonates, 42 (49.4%) were male and 43 (50.6%) were female with a mean gestational age of 37.83 ± 0.58 weeks and admission age of 4.15 ± 1.70 days. Zinc level before phototherapy was 84.98 ± 52.06 (µg/dL) and after phototherapy was 234.41 ± 280.98. The difference between serum zinc levels before and after the phototherapy was significant therefore, the zinc level significantly increased after the phototherapy. Conclusion: Results showed that phototherapy increases serum zinc levels, which can cause zinc toxicity. It is wise to measure serum zinc levels before and during phototherapy and seek the appropriate medical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is an inherited hemoglobin (Hb) disorder with susceptibility for oxidative damage due to chronic redox imbalance in red blood cells (RBCs) which often results in hemolysis, endothelial injury, recurrent vaso-occlusive episodes, and derangement in hematological parameters. Zinc is an antioxidant which helps to reduce oxidative damage. This study aimed to assess the serum level of zinc and its relationship with some hematological parameters in patients with SCA (HbSS). Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional comparative study which involved HbSS patients in steady state with sex- and age-matched HbAA control. Assay of Hb phenotype, serum zinc level, and some haematological parameters were done. Ethical approval was gotten from the institutional review board, and each participant gave informed written consent before recruitment into the study. Analysis of all data obtained was done using SPSS software, version 20. Results: Thirty adult patients with SCA and thirty sex- and age-matched controls with a mean age of 26.7 ± 7.6 years and 27.7± 5.3, respectively, were studied. There was a significant decrease in serum zinc level among patients with HbSS compared to those with HbAA (P = 0.038). Similarly, patients with HbSS had significantly lower Hb level, packed cell volume, and RBC count compared to HbAA control (P < 0.05). On the contrary, patients with HbSS had significantly higher white cell count and platelet count compared to HbAA individuals (P < 0.05). Correlation between serum zinc level and blood counts showed weak positive relationship between zinc level and Hb level (r = 0.04, P = 0.8) and weak negative relationship between serum zinc level and platelet count (r = −0.3, P = 0.1), as well as zinc and white blood cell (WBC) count (r = −0.2, P = 0.4). Conclusion: There was a significantly low level of zinc among patients with HbSS compared with HbAA controls. Patients with HbSS had zinc levels that weakly correlated with Hb level positively but weakly negatively correlated with platelet and WBC counts. Further studies are required on a wider scale to assess whether zinc supplementation may improve blood counts in patients with SCA.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the development of ischemic stroke disease and the serum zinc level. Materials and Methods: A total of 22 ischemic stroke patients and 38 healthy controls were included in the study. Routine blood samples of both groups were centrifuged at 5000 rpm for 5 minutes and serum samples were separated from the blood. Distilled water was added to the serum samples to make a total volume of 4 mL. Vortexing was used to homogenize the total mixture and standard solutions were used to detect zinc with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. A concentration calibration graph was created to illustrate the results. Results: The serum zinc level was significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group (p<0.05). No statistically significant relationship was determined between the serum zinc level and parameters associated with ischemic stroke risk factors and patient complications (p>0.05). However, a strong positive significant correlation was detected between hemoglobin and hematocrit parameters (r=0.936; p<0.001), a moderately positive significant correlation between C-reactive protein and chlorine parameters (r=0.445; p=0.038), a moderately positive significant correlation between sodium and chlorine parameters (r=0.522; p=0.013), and a moderately positive significant correlation between ischemic stroke duration and potassium parameters (r=0.483; p=0.023). Conclusion: The significant increase in the serum zinc level of ischemic stroke patients and the significant positive correlations in parameters associated with ischemic stroke risk factors and complications may indicate an effect on neuronal metabolism that contributes to the development of ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Searching for the fundamental pathogenic mechanisms of atopic dermatitis (AD) and improvement of options for prevention and treatment, increasing attention is paid to the state of trace elements supply of the child’s body. Particular role is given to zinc, which is one of the most versatile trace elements. The purpose was to study the features of atopic dermatitis in children depending on the serum content of zinc. Materials and me­thods. The paper presents the materials of clinical observation, clinical laboratory and instrumental examination of 168 children aged 7 to 18 years with AD. The control group consisted of 60 healthy children. The serum zinc content was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy on a C-115-M1 spectrophotometer according to the instructions that are attached to the device. Results. More than half of children (55.6 %) had very low levels of zinc (0.35 ± 0.11 mg/l), while another 22.2 % had extremely low levels (0.12 ± 0.02 mg/l). Several features of AD clinical course were noted: more frequent episodes of acute respiratory infection, predominance of mode­rate and severe course with periorbital, perioral, perianal dermatitis, dystrophic changes and hyperkeratosis of the nails, increased hair brittleness, expressed skin dryness (2.31 ± 0.73 vs. 1.92 ± 0.69 points, p

Circadian rhythm and dairy zinc levels linked tightly to the lipid metabolism in animals. The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the cross effects of zinc status and daily rhythm on lipid metabolism in male mice. A total of 40 male C57BL/6J mice (9 week-old, weight) were randomly into Zn+(30ug/g) and Zn-(0.3ug/g) groups for 30 days. The results showed that zinc-deficient diet significantly reduced the epididymis/body weight (BW) ratio, but increased the epididymal white adipose tissue/BW ratio and tend to increase the abdominal WAT/BW ratio relative weight. Zn status could shift the circadian rhythm by regulate the Bmal1 and Per2 expressions. Moreover, zinc-deficient diet significantly decreased the serum adiponectin at Clo18. Significant circadian variations on serum CHOL and triglyceride were observed in mice that fed zinc-deficient diet. Further, the FASD1 and FASD2 genes that related to de novo synthesis of long-chained fatty acids were up-regulated, and adipose triglyceride lipase gene expression of lipolysis was decreased compared to the control. Taken together, dairy zinc levels would change the daily rhythm and its lipid metabolism in mice, which might affect the serum lipids thereby change lipids accumulation in body. Abbreviations: ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ATGL, adipose triglyceride lipase; aWATs, abdominal WAT; β-actin, beta-actin; Bmal1, brain and muscle arnt-like protein-1; BW, body weight; CHOL, cholesterol; Cyp21a1, 21-hydroxylase; eWAT, epididymal white adipose tissue; FASD1, delta 5-desaturase; FASD2, delta 6-desaturase; ingWAT, inguinal WAT; mWAT, mesenteric WAT; Per2, period2; TG, triglyceride; WAT, white adipose tissue; SHP small heterodimer partner, Zn, Zinc; [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: In hemodialysis (HD) patients, low serum zinc level could cause hyporesponsivity to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and lead to anemia. This study investigated the effects of oral zinc supplements on the required dose of erythropoietin in patients undergoing HD., Materials and Methods: In a double-blinded randomized trial, 76 HD patients were assigned to 2 groups of 38. One group (intervention) was treated with oral zinc supplements of 210 mg, daily for 6 months, and the other group (control) used placebo capsules for 6 months. The serum zinc level, hemoglobin level, and required dose of erythropoietin, albumin, ferritin, ferrous, and total iron-binding capacity were evaluated 3 and 6 months after intervention., Results: Repeated measures ANOVA did not show a significant increase in Hb level after 6 months of intervention ( P = 0.28). However, the required dose of erythropoietin was decreased, but the changes were not statistically significant ( P > 0.05). The changes in the other variables were not statistically significant., Conclusion: Oral zinc supplementation in HD patients could not increase hemoglobin level irrespective of their serum zinc level., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Journal of Research in Medical Sciences.)

The experiment was conducted to determine the effect of reduced supplemental zinc levels on broiler growth and carcass yield. A total of 160 male broiler chicks (Ross 308) divided into four groups were allotted to 16 cages with 10 birds per cage in each of group and kept in a temperature-controlled room. During the trial, chicks were ad libitum access to feed and water. The experiment started at 11 days of broiler age and chicks were fattened up to 35 days of age. It consisted of 4 dietary treatments with 4 replications per treatment. A corn-wheat-soybean meal basal diet containing 25.84 mg Zn.kg-1 was formulated and zinc levels of 120, 40 or 20 mg.kg-1 was supplied as zinc oxide to give four dietary treatments. At the end of the feeding trial, 24 birds from each group were randomly selected, slaughtered and carcass evaluation was performed. The results show that different levels of zinc had no significant effect on body weight of broilers or feed consumption ratio. These parameters increased by decreasing zinc levels from 120 to 20 mg Zn.kg-1 similarly as the carcass yield, percentages of breast meat and leg meat, but differences between these groups were not significant. In case of relative liver weight and zinc concentration in liver there were significant difference (p -1 and group without zinc supplementation and 120 mg.kg-1 and 40 mg.kg-1, respectively. No signs of disorders such as loss of appetite, growth depression or abnormalities of the skin was appeared in chicks. It seems that reduced supplemented zinc levels from 120 to 20 mg.kg-1 (total Zn 153.13 mg.kg-1 to 45.28 mg.kg-1 respectively) not influenced growth performance parameters of broilers fed corn-wheat-soybean meal diet.

Phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn) deficiencies are the major problems that decrease crop productivity under rice-wheat cropping system. Field experiments were conducted to investigate impacts of P (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg/hm2) and Zn levels (0, 5, 10 and 15 kg/hm2) on dry matter (DM) accumulation and partitioning, and harvest index of three rice genotypes ‘fine (Bamati-385) vs. coarse (F-Malakand and Pukhraj)’ at various growth stages (tillering, heading and physiological maturity). The experiments were conducted at farmers’ field at Batkhela in Northwestern Pakistan for two years in summer 2011 and 2012. The two year pooled data reveled that there were no differences in percent of DM partitioning into leaves and culms with application of different P and Zn levels, and genotypes at tillering. The highest P level (120 kg/hm2) partitioned more DM into panicles than leaves and culms at heading and physiological maturity stages. The highest Zn level (15 kg/hm2) accumulated more DM and partitioned more DM into panicles than leaves and culms at heading and physiological maturity stages. The hybrid rice (Pukhraj) produced and partitioned more DM into panicles than F-Malakand and Bamati-385 at heading and physiological maturity stages. Higher DM accumulation and greater amounts of partitioning into panicles at heading and physiological maturity stages was noticed with increase in P and Zn levels, and the increase was significantly higher in the coarse rice genotypes than fine. We concluded that the growing hybrid rice with application of 120 kg/hm2 P + 15 kg/hm2 Zn not only increases total DM accumulation and partitioned greater amounts into the reproductive plant parts (panicles) but also results in higher harvest index.

Introduction: Zinc plays a vital role in various biological functions and physical growth. More than 300 enzymes in body need zinc for proper function. In this study, the concentration of the zinc micronutrient in breast milk was evaluated and analyzed at the first month of breastfeeding. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive study of 150 breastfeeding mothers in the 2014 who had given birth in Yazd and were sampled in a simple way. Sampling was done exclusively in the health and treatment centers in the city, in the spring of 2014. 10- 20 ml samples of breast milk were taken manually in the morning and before infants' feeding, in 3 times of 5, 15 and 30 days after delivery, to measure the micronutrient of zinc. The concentration of zinc was measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy.Data obtained by questionnaires and atomic absorption was analyzed by ANOVA test. Results: The average age of mothers was 27.40 ± 4.67 years. The average level of zinc in breast milk was 2.60 ± 0.35 mg/l. The zinc concentration of breast milk was at the bottom of the standard range of zinc in breast milk.There was no significant relationship between zinc averages in milk with education, age, BMI and mothers' job. But, there was a direct relationship between zinc levels of breast milk with mothers' BMI. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it seems that addition of zinc to the diet of breastfeeding mothers helps to prevent zinc deficiency in mothers' blood serum as well as children's nutrition.

Introduction Critically ill patients develop severe stress, inflammation and a clinical state that may raise the utilization and metabolic replacement of many nutrients and especially zinc, depleting their body reserves. This study was designed to assess the zinc status in critical care patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), comparing them with a group of healthy people, and studying the association with expression of zinc transporters. Material and methods This investigation was a prospective, multicentre, comparative, observational and analytic study. Twelve critically ill patients from different hospitals and 12 healthy subjects from Granada, Spain, all with informed consent were recruited. Data on daily nutritional assessment, ICU severity scores, inflammation, clinical and nutritional parameters, plasma and blood cell zinc concentrations, and levels of transcripts for zinc transporters in whole blood were taken at admission and at the seventh day of the ICU stay. Results Zinc levels on critical ill patient are diminish comparing with the healthy control (HS: 0.94 ± 0.19; CIPF: 0.67 ± 0.16 mg/dL). The 58% of critical ill patients showed zinc plasma deficiency at beginning of study while 50.0% of critical ill after 7 days of ICU stay. ZnT7, ZIP4 and ZIP9 were the zinc transporters with highest expression in whole blood. In general, all zinc transporters were significantly down-regulated (P < 0.05) in the critical ill population at admission in comparison with healthy subjects. Severity scores and inflammation were significantly associated (P < 0.05) with zinc plasma levels, and zinc transporters ZIP3, ZIP4, ZIP8, ZnT6, ZnT7. Expression of 11 out of 24 zinc transporters was analysed, and ZnT1, ZnT4, ZnT5 and ZIP4, which were downregulated by more than 3-fold in whole blood of patients. Conclusion In summary, in our study an alteration of zinc status was related with the severity-of-illness scores and inflammation in critical ill patients since admission in ICU stay. SIRS caused a general shut-down of expression of zinc transporters in whole blood. That behavior was associated with severity and inflammation of patients at ICU admission regardless zinc status. We conclude that zinc transporters in blood might be useful indicators of severity of systemic inflammation and outcome for critically ill patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pediatric respiratory disease remains an important cause of morbidity in both the developing and the developed world. Pneumonias and inflammatory process develops in alveoli and interstitium as a response to infection- causing factors such as bacteria and viruses. Since pneumonia in infancy is difficult to discriminate from acute bronchiolitis, the term acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) inclusive of these both diseases is used. Zincis a micronutrient with important roles in growth and in the immune, nervous and reproductive systems. Regular dietary intake of zinc is necessary because the human body cannot produce zinc and does not have an adequate mechanism for storing or releasing it. Objective: was to evaluate serum zinc level in children with ALRTI. Patients and Methods: Serum zinc level in children with ALRTI. 80 patients (subdivided into 3 groups according to severity of infection) compared to 20 normal individuals were included in this study. Results: there was highly statistical significant difference between all patients and control groups as regard serum zinc level (mean of serum vitamin D level in patients and control groups were 56.413 ±29.474 and 90.135 ± 17.345 respectively, p=<0.0001). Conclusion: Zinc deficiency occurs in the majority of recurrent respiratory infection in children and therefore a decreased serum zinc level is considered an additional risk factor for recurrent respiratory infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Zinc is a vital trace element and its deficiency in cirrhosis might potentiate the development of hepatic encephalopathy. The objective of this study was to assess the zinc levels in serum of patients having viral cirrhosis and compare it with normal healthy controls. Methods: This study was conducted in Department of Gastroenterology, Liaquat National hospital and medical college, Karachi, Pakistan; from January 2014 to December 2014. Total of 45 patients with the mean age of 52.44±8.7 years were included. The three groups of patients were made including Child Pugh Class Score B (Group-1), Child Pugh Class C (Group-2) and healthy controls (Group-3) having 15 patients in each group. Zinc levels in serum were evaluated by the help of atomic absorption spectrometry (Normal range50-150 µg/dl). Results: Total of 45 subjects was enrolled in this study. Overall prevalence of zinc deficiency was noted in 13(28.9%) patients. Mean value of zinc levels in group 1, 2 and 3 were 68.09±20.85, 50.69±15.86 and 92.91±17.18µg/dL respectively.Highly statistical difference was observed in the mean zinc level between three groups p=0.0001. An inverse correlation was observed between Child Pugh Score and the zinc level in serum r=-0.498. Conclusion: Patients suffering from advanced cirrhosis appeared to have lower serum zinc levels.In patients suffering from viral cirrhosis having hepatic encephalopathy, zinc supplementation might improve clinical outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of different dietary amounts of organic and inorganic Zn were studied in male White Pekin ducks (WPD) from 1 to 56 days of age. The control diet (26 ppm of Zn from raw ingredients) was supplemented with 30, 60 and 120 ppm of Zn from both inorganic and organic sources, for a total of seven treatment groups, each containing five replicates of nine 1-day-old ducklings each. BW, feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded at 1, 28 and 56 days of age. At 56 days of age, five birds per group were used in a digestibility trial to measure Zn retention and excretion. At the end of the trial, five birds per treatment were slaughtered and carcass traits as well as Zn content in tibia and liver were measured. Samples of blood from five birds per treatment were used to measure plasma concentration of Zn and Cu. BW gain during the entire period of the trial increased (P < 0.001) by 30 and 60 ppm of Zn. Increasing Zn contents progressively increased (P < 0.001) the tibia and the liver Zn contents as well as the plasma Zn and Cu contents. The concentration of 120 ppm of Zn increased (P < 0.001) tibia ash and decreased (P < 0.001) abdominal fat in the carcasses. In the period 1 to 56 days, Zn oxide increased (P < 0.001) growth rate and improved (P < 0.03) FCR compared with organic Zn, whereas organic Zn increased (P < 0.003) the dressed carcass percentage. Organic Zinc increased (P < 0.001) Zn and Cu concentration in the plasma. A level of 30 ppm of Zn from an inorganic source was adequate for male WPD during 1 to 56 days of age, based on positive effects of growth rate and Zn excretion.

Background: Recurrent Herpes Labialis (RHL) is one of most common infective vesiculoulcerative lesions. According to some studies administration of topical and/or systemic zinc compositions has been effective in treatment and prevention. This article aims to comparison of zinc level in healthy subjects and RHL patients in acute and convalescent phases. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective case - control study, carried on 80 individuals (40 normal and 40 RHL patients) mean age=34.5 and 34.4, respectively. Saliva samples were taken in patients in acute phase once and after healing of lesions in convalescent phase (averagely 21 days later) and in normal individuals. Salivary zinc level concentration was measured by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer by dry digestion method. The results were statistically analyzed with SPSS software by t-test (α=0.05). Results: Results showed that salivary zinc level in case group in acute and convalescent phases were 160.8 ngr /ml and 205.7 ngr/ml respectivly and significant differences between them were existed (P