Circulating zinc levels and cardiometabolic risk-related variables in adults

Abstract

Introduction. Altered serum zinc levels, lower and higher in respect to healthy controls, have been observed in people affected by non-communicable chronic diseases. However, to date, studies describing potential determinants of zinc levels in general populations free of chronic diseases appear to be limited.
Objective. To evaluate whether nutrient intake, biochemical and clinical measures, lifestyle and family history of cardio-metabolic diseases were independently associated with zinc levels in apparently healthy individuals.
Materials and methods. Two-hundred-thirty-nine healthy subjects were evaluated. Serum zinc was measured by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry and the rest of biochemical marker by enzymatic-colorimetric methods. Standard techniques were used to measure waist circumference, height and weight. Body fat was estimated by impedanciometry and blood pressure by digital sphygmomanometers. A survey was applied to record personal and familial history of non-communicable chronic disease (NCCD), and nutrient intake was estimated by using the 24-h recall method.
Results. Women had lower serum zinc levels than men. In multivariate analyzes total fat intake [Beta=-0.15, Standard error(SD) 0.03,P<0.001], plasma log-triglycerides[Beta=-10.18,SD 3.9,P=0.010], and female gender[Beta=-6.81,SD 3.3,P=0.043] were significant predictors for serum zinc levels. Zinc intake was not significantly related to serum zinc in both, univariate and multivariate analyses.
Conclusions. Variables related to cardiometabolic risk such as plasma triglycerides levels and total fat intake were associated with serum zinc levels in individuals without diagnostic of chronic or infectious/inflammatory diseases. Further studies are required to confirm our findings as well as evaluation of possible mechanisms for these relationships.