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ARS Home » Plains Area » Grand Forks, North Dakota » Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center » Healthy Body Weight Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #190319
Title: ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ZINC POOL SIZES AND IRON STORES IN PREMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Author
item YOKOI, KATSUHIKO - SEITOKU UNIV, CHIBA, JAPA
item EGGER, NORMAN - MAYO CLINIC, ROCHESTER, M
item RAMANUJAM, V - UNIV TEXAS-GALVESTON
item ALCOCK, NANCY - UNIV TEXAS-GALVESTON
item DAYAL, HARI - UNIV TEXAS-GALVESTON
item Penland, James
item SANDSTEAD, HAROLD - UNIV TEXAS-GALVESTON

Submitted to: British Journal of Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/24/2007
Publication Date: 12/15/2007
Citation: Yokoi, K., Egger, N.G., Ramanujam, V.M., Alcock, N.W., Dayal, H.H., Penland, J.G., Sandstead, H.H. 2007. Association between zinc pool sizes and iron stores in premenopausal women. British Journal of Nutrition. 98(6):1214-23.

Interpretive Summary: Assessment of zinc (Zn) status is problematic because plasma Zn is not a good indicator and determination of more sensitive indicators such as Zn pools is impractical. However, Zn deficiency is associated with Fe deficiency, and both Zn and Fe nutriture may be affected by common foods; therefore, Fe status may be a useful indicator of Zn status. This study evaluated relationships between Zn pool sizes in a three-compartment model, and Fe stores assessed by serum ferritin and menstrual losses, and looked at consumption of foods, based on responses to a food frequency questionnaire, that affect both Zn and Fe nutritional indices. Subjects were 33 healthy premenopausal women not taking Zn or Fe supplements nor using oral contraceptives. Findings were: 1) Zn pool sizes were positively associated with serum ferritin; 2) intakes of foods such as beef, yogurt, coffee orange juice and bran cereals were similarly associated with both Zn pools and serum ferritin; and, 3) menstrual blood loss was negatively associated with Zn pools and serum ferritin. Thus, Fe stores assessed by serum ferritin may be a useful indicator of Zn nutriture in healthy premenopausal women. Findings have important practical implications for assessment of Zn status in both research and clinical settings.

Technical Abstract: Background: Zinc (Zn) nutriture is assumed to be associated with iron (Fe) nutriture based on common food factors in humans. Objective: The objective was to evaluate relationships between Zn pool sizes and Fe stores assessed by serum ferritin, and to find common food factors that affect both Zn and Fe nutritional indices. Design: The subjects were 33 healthy premenopausal women not taking dietary supplements containing Zn and Fe nor oral contraceptives. Main outcomes were a) exchangeable Zn pool sizes kinetically determined using the three-compartment mammillary model with 67Zn as a tracer, b) serum ferritin, and c) food frequencies. Results: Smaller Zn pool sizes; i.e., central Zn pool size per lean body mass (Q1/LBM), lesser peripheral Zn pool size (Q2), and greater peripheral Zn pool size per lean body mass (Q3/LBM), were associated with lower serum ferritin. Smaller Q2 was also associated with lower serum Fe. Lower serum ferritin and (Q1/LBM) were associated with lower frequency of beef consumption, with higher frequency of bran breakfast cereal consumption, and the presence of bleeding through menstrual pads (BTMP). Smaller Q2 was associated with less frequent consumption of beef, coffee and yogurt, more frequent consumption of bran breakfast cereals and orange juice; and the presence of BTMP. Smaller Q3/LBM was associated with lower frequency of beef consumption and the presence of BTMP. Conclusion: Zn nutriture and Fe nutritional status are associated on the basis of the common food factors and excessive menstrual bleeding. Low serum ferritin (<20 ug/L) may be used as a screening test for poor Zn nutriture in healthy premenopausal women.