Dietary Zinc Intake and Its Association with Metabolic Syndrome Indicators among Chinese Adults: An Analysis of the China Nutritional Transition Cohort Survey 2015

Abstract

The dietary zinc consumed in Chinese households has decreased over the past decade. However, the national dietary zinc intake in the last five years has seldom been investigated. Using data from 12,028 participants 18 to 64 years old (52.9% male) in the China Nutritional Transition Cohort Survey (CNTCS) 2015, we describe the intake of dietary zinc and the contributions of major foods and we examine the relationship between the level of dietary zinc intake and metabolic syndrome indicators, including blood pressure, fasting glucose, and triglycerides (TG), in Chinese adults. We assessed dietary zinc intake using 24 h recalls on three consecutive days. The mean daily dietary zinc intake for all participants was 10.2 milligrams per day (males 11.2 mg/day, females 9.4 mg/day, p < 0.001). The mean daily dietary zinc density for all participants was 5.2 mg/day per 1000 kilocalories. Among all participants, 31.0% were at risk of zinc deficiency, with dietary zinc intakes of less than the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) (males 49.2%, females 14.8%, p < 0.050), and 49.9% had adequate dietary zinc intakes, equal to or greater than the recommended nutrient intake (RNI) (males 30.7%, females 67.0%, p < 0.050). We found substantial gender differences in dietary zinc intake and zinc deficiency, with nearly half of the men at risk of zinc deficiency. Males of younger age, with higher education and incomes, and who consumed higher levels of meat, had higher zinc intakes, higher zinc intake densities, and higher rates of meeting the EAR. Among all participants, grains, livestock meat, fresh vegetables, legumes, and seafood were the top five food sources of zinc, and their contributions to total dietary zinc intake were 39.5%, 17.3%, 8.9%, 6.4%, and 4.8%, respectively. The groups with relatively better dietary zinc intakes consumed lower proportions of grains and higher proportions of livestock meat. For males with adequate dietary zinc intake (≥RNI), TG levels increased by 0.219 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) compared with males with deficient dietary zinc intake (<EAR). For females in the ≥RNI group, diastolic blood pressure decreased by 0.963 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and fasting glucose decreased by 0.187 mmol/L compared with females in the <EAR group; in addition, TG increased by 0.097 mmol/L in females in the ≥RNI group and by 0.120 mmol/L in females in the equal to or greater than the EAR and less than the RNI (EAR-RNI) group compared with females in the <EAR group. Adequate dietary zinc was associated with reduced diastolic blood pressure and fasting glucose levels in female Chinese adults, but with raised TG levels in all Chinese adults. We recommend strengthened nutrition interventions for Chinese males and lower socioeconomic subgroups.

Micronutrient-rich dietary intake is associated with a reduction in the effects of particulate matter on blood pressure among electronic waste recyclers at Agbogbloshie, Ghana

“…Consistent with findings in other studies [80,81], the unadjusted model revealed that Zn intake was associated with reduced SBP, indicating its deficiency as a risk factor for the occurrence of high BP. In contrast, other studies have reported that dietary intake of Zn does not affect BP in animals and humans.…”

Dietary zinc intake and incident chronic kidney disease

“…Zinc intake is related with development and progression of several chronic metabolic diseases [29e31]. In particular, a close association between insulin resistance and blood pressure has been repeatedly reported [17,20,32]. In a cross-sectional study of 3575 Indian participants, low zinc intake was associated with higher prevalence of coronary artery disease, diabetes, and altered metabolic surrogate markers [17].…”

“…Dietary zinc supplementation has shown beneficial roles in patients with chronic metabolic diseases [19]. Similarly, adequate zinc consumption is associated with reduced blood pressure and glucose control in Chinese diabetes and CVD patients [20]. Collectively, these results suggest a close relationship between zinc intake and metabolic and cardiovascular equanimity.…”

Dairy Intake Would Reduce Nutrient Gaps in Chinese Young Children Aged 3–8 Years: A Modelling Study

“…Further details of the CHNS can be found in previous publications [23][24][25]. Compared to previous survey rounds [23,24], an additional three provinces were included in 2015 [25]. All subjects gave their informed consent for inclusion before they participated in the study.…”