Assessing the trace element status of man

Hambidge, K. Michael

doi:10.1079/pns19880008

Cited by 26 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…2 Given the close association of zinc deficiency with stunting in apparently normal 3 as well as malnourished children, 4 the disorder has been labeled by many as a public health problem in developing countries. 5 Although the optimal method of assessment of body zinc status is uncertain, plasma levels currently offer the best means of evaluation 6 and it has also been suggested that the best indication of a deficient state may be the clinical response to supplementation. 7 The clinical response to zinc supplementation in pathologic states is, however, variable.…”

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confidence: 99%

Zinc Supplementation in Malnourished Children With Persistent Diarrhea in Pakistan

1999

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Although there was satisfactory recovery in malnourished children with persistent diarrhea receiving the Khitchri-yogurt diet, there was no evidence of improved weight gain or acceleration of recovery from diarrhea with zinc supplementation. In contrast, the reduction in plasma copper levels in zinc-supplemented malnourished children suggests that caution should be exercised in supplementing severely malnourished children with zinc alone.

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Zinc Supplementation in Malnourished Children With Persistent Diarrhea in Pakistan

1999

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“…It is generally accepted that, with the notable exception of iron, methods for the assessment of trace element status in humans remain grossly inadequate (Hambidge, 1988). Clinical diagnosis of severe zinc deficiency in man is relatively simple because of the development of a characteristic skin rash.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Severe Zn deficiency in growing animals is characterized by anorexia, skeletal abnormalities, skin lesions, alopecia and inhibition of sexual maturity (Burch et al 1975). Assessment of subclinical Zn deficiency is more difficult and no reliable indicator of suboptimal Zn intake by either man (King, 1986;Hambidge, 1988) or animals (Mathur et al 1978;Mills, 1987) is currently available.…”

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confidence: 99%

The effect of dietary zinc depletion and repletion on rats: Zn concentration in various tissues and activity of pancreatic γ-glutamyl hydrolase (EC3.4.22.12) as indices of Zn status

Canton

Cremin

1990

Br J Nutr

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Unlike severe zinc deficiency, marginal Zn deficiency is difficult to identify in rats because no reliable indicator of suboptimal Zn status is currently available. We have previously observed reduced pancreatic γ-glutamyl hydrolase (EC3.4.22.12) activity and impaired pteroylpolyglutamate absorption in Zn-deficient rats. In the present study the effect of Zn depletion and repletion on the Zn concentration of various tissues and on the activity of this enzyme was investigated. The objective was to determine the sensitivity of these variables to Zn depletion and to evaluate their usefulness as indices of Zn status. Male Wistar rats (about 180 g), maintained from weanling on a purified Zn-adequate diet, were randomly allocated into twelve groups. A pretreatment control group was killed immediately. The remaining eleven groups were fed on a Zn-deficient diet and a group killed daily for 7 d (Zn-depleted groups). The remaining four groups were re-fed the Zn-adequate diet and a group killed daily (Zn-repleted groups). On analysis, pancreas and spleen Zn levels responded most rapidly to reduced Zn intake, followed by tibia, liver, kidney and plasma. Zn concentration was maintained in testes. Reduced plasma folate levels were also observed. A significant reduction in pancreatic γ-glutamyl hydrolase activity before the depletion of many tissue Zn stores confirms the Zn sensitivity of the enzyme. It was concluded that future investigation into the inter-relationship between Zn and folate metabolism may be useful in identifying a sensitive, biochemical index of Zn status.

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“…This may be due to the insensitivity of plasma zinc measures of zinc status, because they are often normal in cases of chronic but mild zinc deficiency. In view of the current absence of an accurate measure of zinc status (Hambidge, 1988;Sandstead, 1991), and of the evidence that zinc is essentially nontoxic, and zinc overload extremely unlikely (Vallee & Falchuk, 1993), the best available indicator of zinc status is a favorable response to zinc supplementation (Dinsmore et al 1986).…”

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confidence: 99%