Dietary zinc supplementation during Giardia lamblia infection enhances growth performance, zinc status and immune response in CD1 mice (392.5)

Abstract

The effect of zinc (Zn) supplementation for treating diarrhea in children may vary according to the etiological agent. Since Giardia lamblia (G. lamblia) is an important cause of parasitic diarrheal disease worldwide it was of interest to evaluate the effect of different levels of dietary Zn intake on growth performance, Zn status and immune response during infection. CD1 mice were fed 1 of 4 experimental diets: low Zn (ZnL), adequate Zn (ZnA), supplemented Zn (ZnS1) and highly supplemented Zn (ZnS2) diet containing 10, 30, 223 and 1383 mg Zn/kg respectively. After a 10‐day feeding period, mice were orally inoculated with G. lamblia trophozoites and followed on the assigned diet during the course of infection. Giardia‐free mice fed ZnL or ZnA diet were able to attain normal growth while Giardia‐infected mice presented significant growth retardation and lower serum Zn levels. ZnS1 and ZnS2 diets avoided this weight loss during infection, enhanced the production of anti‐G. lamblia IgG and improved serum Zn levels despite the ongoing infection. Maximum growth rate and antibody mediated response were attained in mice fed ZnS1 diet with no further increases by feeding higher Zn levels (ZnS2). These findings reflect biological effect of Zn that could be of public health importance in endemic areas of infection. (Partially published, Nutrients 2013, 5(9), 3447‐3460) Grant Funding Source: Supported by CONACyT