Adequate Zinc Nutrition

[Guest guest]

Hi folks:

I have previously posted that if you look at the consequences of deficiencies or

excess intake of zinc, one would earnestly want to avoid either. When I assess

my nutrient intake on CRON-0-Meter I pretty consistently find that I am about

50% below the RDA for the nutrient. So I take the trouble to supplement just up

to the RDA.

Here is a study done in older people which suggests adequate zinc nutrition may

be especially important for them:

" Serum zinc and pneumonia in nursing home elderly " 1,2,3

Simin N Meydani, Junaidah B Barnett, Gerard E Dallal, Basil C Fine, F

Jacques, Lynette S Leka and son H Hamer

1 From the Nutritional Immunology Laboratory (SNM, JBB, LSL, and DHH), the

Biostatistics Unit (GED), and the Nutritional Epidemiology Program (PJF), Jean

Mayer US Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at

Tufts University, Boston, MA; the Department of Pathology, Sackler Graduate

School of Biochemical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA (SNM); the Friedman

School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University (SNM, JBB, GED, PFJ,

and DHH); the Nutrition/Infection Unit, Department of Public Health and Family

Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA (JBB); the Travel and

Tropical Medicine Practice, Boston, MA (BCF); the Department of Medicine, Boston

University School of Medicine, Boston, MA (DHH); and the Center for

International Health and Development, Boston University School of Public Health,

Boston, MA (DHH)

2 Supported by the NIA, National Institutes of Health grant 1R01-AG13975; the US

Department of Agriculture agreement 58-1950-9-001, and a grant for preparation

of the study capsules from Hoffmann-La Roche Vitamins and Fine Chemicals

Division (currently DSM).

3 Address reprint requests and correspondence to SN Meydani, Mayer USDA

Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, 711 Washington

Street, Boston, MA 02111. E-mail: simin.meydani@....

ABSTRACT

Background: Zinc plays an important role in immune function. The association

between serum zinc and pneumonia in the elderly has not been studied.

Objective: The objective was to determine whether serum zinc concentrations in

nursing home elderly are associated with the incidence and duration of

pneumonia, total and duration of antibiotic use, and pneumonia-associated and

all-cause mortality.

Design: This observational study was conducted in residents from 33 nursing

homes in Boston, MA, who participated in a 1-y randomized, double-blind, and

placebo-controlled vitamin E supplementation trial; all were given daily doses

of 50% of the recommended dietary allowance of essential vitamins and minerals,

including zinc. Participants with baseline (n = 578) or final (n = 420) serum

zinc concentrations were categorized as having low (<70 µg/dL) or normal (70

µg/dL) serum zinc concentrations. Outcome measures included the incidence and

number of days with pneumonia, number of new antibiotic prescriptions, days of

antibiotic use, death due to pneumonia, and all-cause mortality.

Results: Compared with subjects with low zinc concentrations, subjects with

normal final serum zinc concentrations had a lower incidence of pneumonia, fewer

(by almost 50%) new antibiotic prescriptions, a shorter duration of pneumonia,

and fewer days of antibiotic use (3.9 d compared with 2.6 d) (P 0.004 for all).

Normal baseline serum zinc concentrations were associated with a reduction in

all-cause mortality (P = 0.049).

Conclusion: Normal serum zinc concentrations in nursing home elderly are

associated with a decreased incidence and duration of pneumonia, a decreased

number of new antibiotic prescriptions, and a decrease in the days of antibiotic

use. Zinc supplementation to maintain normal serum zinc concentrations in the

elderly may help reduce the incidence of pneumonia and associated morbidity.

Rodney.