Effect of zinc supplementation on serum leptin levels and insulin resistance of obese women Effect of vitamin C and zinc on osmotic fragility and lipid peroxidation in zinc‐deficient haemodialysis patients Effect of hypotensive therapy combined with modified diet or zinc supplementation on biochemical parameters and mineral status in hypertensive patients. Plasma zinc concentrations during the first 2 years after diagnosis of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: a prospective study. The effect of five-year zinc supplementation on serum zinc, serum cholesterol and hematocrit in persons randomly assigned to treatment group in the age-related eye disease study: AREDS Report No. 7. Effects of zinc and multimineral vitamin supplementation on glycemic and lipid control in adult diabetes Reference Values for Serum Zinc Concentration and Prevalence of Zinc Deficiency in Adult Iranian Subjects Lipid peroxidation in insulin-dependent diabetic patients with early retina degenerative lesions: effects of an oral zinc supplementation. Changes in mineral status are associated with improvements in insulin sensitivity in obese patients following l-arginine supplementation Topical insulin in wound healing: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The effect of zinc supplementation on plasma lipids and low-density lipoprotein oxidation in males. Modulation of the neuroendocrine system and immune functions by zinc supplementation in children with Down's syndrome. Zinc supplementation and stunted infants in Ethiopia: a randomised controlled trial Weekly iron supplementation does not block increases in serum zinc due to weekly zinc supplementation in Bangladeshi infants. Major reduction of malaria morbidity with combined vitamin A and zinc supplementation in young children in Burkina Faso: a randomized double blind trial Zinc and Selenium Co-supplementation Reduces Some Lipid Peroxidation and Angiogenesis Markers in a Rat Model of NAFLD-Fed High Fat Diet Iron supplementation decreases plasma zinc but has no effect on plasma fatty acids in non-anemic women. Zinc supplementation in children and adolescents with acute leukemia Oral zinc in macular degeneration. Nutrition of Very Low Birth Weight Infants Fed Human Milk with or without Supplemental Trace Elements: A Randomized Controlled Trial Disturbed zinc homeostasis in diabetic patients by in vitro and in vivo analysis of insulinomimetic activity of zinc.
Leptin is thought to be a lipostatic signal that contributes to body weight regulation . Zinc might play an important role in appetite regulation and its administration stimulates leptin production . However , there are few reports in the literature on its role on leptin levels in the obese population . The present work asseses the effect of zinc supplementation on serum leptin levels in insulin resistance ( IR ) . A prospect i ve double-blind , r and omized , clinical , placebo-controlled study was conducted . Fifty-six normal glucose-tolerant obese women ( age : 25–45 yr , body mass index [ BMI ] = 36.2 ±2.3 kg/m2 ) were r and omized for treatment with 30 mg zinc daily for 4 wk . Baseline values of both groups were similar for age , BMI , caloric intake , insulin concentration , insulin resistance , and zinc concentration in diet , plasma , urine , and erythrocytes . Insulin and leptin were measured by radioimmunoassay and IR was estimated by the homeostasis model assessment ( HOMA ) . The determinations of zinc in plasma , erythrocytes , and 24-h urine were performed by using atomic absorption spectrophotometry . After 4 wk , BMI , fasting glucose , and zinc concentration in plasma and erythrocyte did not change in either group , although zinc concentration in the urine increased from 385.9±259.3 to 470.2±241.2±μg/24 h in the group with zinc supplementation ( p<0.05 ) . Insulin did not change in the placebo group , whereas there was a significant decrease of this hormone in the supplemented group . HOMA also decreased from 5.8±2.6 to 4.3±1.7 ( p<0.05 ) in the zinc-supplemented group but did not change in the placebo group . Leptin did not change in the placebo group . In the zinc group , leptin was 23.6±12.3 μg/L and did not change . More human data from a unique population of obese individuals with documented insulin resistance would be useful in guiding future studies on zinc supplementation ( with higher doses or longer intervals ) or different measures Peroxidation of the membrane lipid structure of red blood cell leads to haemolysis and anaemia in haemodialysis patients . Dietary constituents of antioxidant vitamins and trace elements may play an important role in protecting against oxidant damage . In this study , the effects of supplementation of vitamin C and zinc on osmotic fragility and lipid peroxidation of erythrocytes were investigated in 34 zinc‐deficient haemodialysis patients . Sixteen sex‐ and age‐matched normal volunteers acted as controls . Patients were r and omized to receive vitamin C ( 250 mg day−1 ) , zinc ( 20 mg day−1 ) or a placebo treatment for 3 months . The levels of vitamin C , zinc , malondialdehyde ( MDA ) and osmotic fragility were measured initially and 3 months after supplementation . Mean serum concentration of vitamin C and zinc increased significantly in the groups at the end of the respective study periods . Supplementation with vitamin C and zinc improved osmotic fragility , and decreased the level of MDA in the groups , but some side‐effects ( i.e. nausea , vomiting , fever , muscle pain , weakness ) were observed during the zinc treatment . The results showed that the supplementation of both treatments decreased osmotic fragilty and MDA in zinc‐deficient haemodialysis patients . However , vitamin C treatment was found to be safer than zinc supplementation . Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons , BACKGROUND Hypotensive therapy leads to a number of trace elements metabolism disturbances . Zinc balance is frequently affected by antihypertensive treatment . AIM To evaluate the effect of a hypotensive treatment , modified diet and zinc supplementation on mineral status and selected biochemical parameters in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients on monotherapy . METHODS In the first stage , arterial hypertension in ninety-eight human subjects was diagnosed . In the second stage , antihypertensive monopharmacotherapy was implemented . In the third stage , patients were r and omized into three groups and continued antihypertensive monotherapy : group D received an optimal-mineral-content diet , group S received zinc supplementation , and group C had no changes in diet or zinc supplementation . Iron , zinc , and copper concentrations in serum , erythrocytes , urine , and hair were determined . Lipids , glucose , ceruloplasmin , ferritin , albumin , C-reactive protein ( CRP ) , tumor necrosis factor α ( TNF-α ) , nitric oxide ( NO ) , superoxide dismutase ( SOD ) and catalase ( CAT ) were assayed in serum . RESULTS Antihypertensive monotherapy decreased zinc concentration in serum and erythrocytes and increased the level of zinc in urine , decreased CAT and SOD activity , TNF-α concentration in serum , and increased the level of NO in the serum . Zinc supply led to an increase in zinc concentration in serum , erythrocytes , and hair ( in group S only ) . In the groups with higher zinc intake , decreased glucose concentration in the serum was observed . Significant correlation was seen between the zinc and glucose serum concentrations . CONCLUSION Hypotensive drugs disturb zinc status in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients .  Antihypertensive monotherapy combined with increased zinc supply in the diet or supplementation favorably modify zinc homeostasis and regulate glucose status without blood pressure affecting in patients with hypertension Studies of  zinc  status in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus ( IDDM ) have shown contradictory results . Zinc is essential for many enzymes involved in the human metabolism and may play a role in the bio synthesis and storage of insulin in the B-cell . We therefore prospect ively followed 26 patients ( 14 males and 12 females ) with newly diagnosed IDDM in order to determine the plasma zinc variation at the time of diagnosis and after 1 , 3 , 6 , 12 and 24 months . Seventy-two healthy persons ( 36 males and 36 females ) served as controls . Only minor differences in plasma zinc were demonstrated during the first 2 years of IDDM . A sex difference was found in healthy controls but only after 24 months in the diabetics . Quantitative changes of the B-cell function , development of insulin antibodies , age , body weight and serum albumin did not correlate with the course of plasma zinc The effects of long-term supplementation with pharmacologic doses of zinc oxide on serum levels of zinc , lipids and hematocrit have not been studied systematic ally to date . Eleven Clinical Centers enrolled 4757 participants from 1992 to 1998 as part of the Age-Related Eye Disease Study ( AREDS ) . Of these , 3640 participants , aged 55 - 80 y , who had early-to-late age-related macular degeneration ( AMD ) were r and omly assigned to daily supplementation with or without 80 mg of zinc as zinc oxide plus 2 mg of copper as cupric oxide to study the effects of zinc supplementation on the progression to late AMD . This paper reports on the effect of a 5-y supplementation with zinc oxide and cupric oxide on serum zinc , copper , lipids , and hematocrit for 717 participants from three clinical centers . At the 5-y exam , the median increase in serum zinc levels for participants assigned to zinc formulations was 17 % compared with a 2 % increase for participants not assigned to zinc ( P < 0.001 ) . The differential effect on serum zinc was observed at 1 y and remained fairly constant over the 5-y period . After 5 y , no significant differences in changes in serum hematocrit , copper or lipids were found between participants assigned to formulations containing zinc and copper , and those assigned to formulations without zinc and copper . Estimates from a modified Block Food-Frequency Question naire suggest the AREDS population at baseline had a zinc intake from diet similar to that of the general population Aims : To evaluate the effects of zinc with or without other antioxidants on blood glucose , lipid profile , and serum creatinine in adult diabetics on long-term follow-up . Material s and methods : Patients ( n = 96 ) were r and omly allocated to three groups : group A ( n = 29 ) was supplemented with oral zinc sulfate ( 22 mg/day ) and multivitamin/mineral ( zinc+MVM ) preparation ; group B ( n = 31 ) was given the same preparation without zinc ( MVM ) ; and group C ( n = 36 ) was given a matching placebo for a period of 4 months in a single-blinded study . Blood sample s were taken at baseline and after 4 months of supplementation to assess blood glucose ( fasting and postpr and ial ) and glycosylated hemoglobin ( HbA1C% ) and serum levels of zinc , creatinine , and lipids . Results : The zinc+MVM group had a mean change of fasting blood sugar −0.33 mmol/L ( st and ard error of the mean 0.21 mmol/L ) and was significant ( P = 0.05 ) when compared with the other two groups ( mean change in the MVM group + 0.19 ( 0.31 ) mmol/L and + 0.43 ( 0.23 ) mmol/L in the control group , respectively ) . The HbA1C% level reduced significantly , irrespective of the baseline level , in zinc+MVM-supplemented individuals . In the other two groups , the change of HbA1C% level was not significant . Serum lipid levels reduced significantly in the zinc+MVM and MVM groups . Conclusions : Zinc+MVM supplementation showed beneficial effects in the metabolic control of adult diabetics in addition to elevating their serum zinc level . Zinc supplementation  improved glycemic control measured by HbA1C% and fasting and postpr and ial glucose . Furthermore , zinc supplementation  lowered serum cholesterol and cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein ratio Zinc , as an essential trace element for health , plays various biological roles in human body functions . Serum zinc reference values are essential for assessing zinc-associated abnormalities and the prevalence of zinc deficiency . This study aims at determining age- and sex-specific reference values for serum zinc concentrations in adult Iranian subjects .  Serum zinc concentration was measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry in 4,698 adult subjects , aged 20–94 years , r and omly selected from the population of the Tehran , Lipid , and Glucose Study . After application of exclusion criteria , reference values for serum zinc were determined in 2,632 apparently healthy subjects according to guidelines of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry ( nonparametric method ) . Dietary zinc  was assessed in 2,906 individuals , of which 1,685 were healthy subjects , using a vali date d semiquantitative food frequency question naire . Reference values for serum zinc concentrations ranged between 9.6 and 31.6 , 8.9 and 29.9 , and 9.3 and 30.8 μmol/L in men , women , and the total population , respectively . Prevalence of serum zinc deficiency was 3.0 and 2.4 % in men and women , respectively ( p = 0.267 ) ; in men , but not in women , the prevalence increased significantly with age ( p for trend < 0.001 ) . Of the total participants , 10.3 % ( 6.5 men and 3.8 % women , p < 0.01 ) had lower zinc intake compared to dietary reference intakes . The zinc density of the population was 6.3 mg/1,000 kcal . In conclusion , this study presents reference values for serum zinc concentration in adult Iranian subjects for both sexes and different age groups . Prevalence of serum zinc deficiency and dietary zinc inadequacy seems to be lower in Iranians , compared to some other population DESIGN Placebo for 3 months , followed by 30 mg/day zinc gluconate in identical capsules . SETTING Diabetic out patients clinic at the University Hospital , Grenoble . SUBJECTS Diabetic patients cared for type I diabetes mellitus . 22 patients began the study , 4 dropped out . 10 patients suffered of an early retinopathy , 8 patients had no retinopathy . INTERVENTIONS In this order : T0 biological measurements , 3 months placebo treatment , T1 biological measurements , 3 months zinc gluconate treatment , T2 biological measurements . Plasma Zn , Cu , Se , thiobarbituric acid reactants and antioxidant enzymes were measured [ plasma and red glutathione peroxidase ( Se-GPx ) , red cell superoxide dismutase ( Cu-Zn-SOD ) ] . RESULTS Lower plasma zinc level in the two groups . An increase in zinc level was observed and was more important in diabetic patients with no retinopathy ( P = 0.05 ) . The thiobarbituric acid reactants were above the reference values in all the patients , and were decreased at T2 ( P < 0.05 ) . Increase of GPx activity after zinc supplementation in patients with retinopathy . CONCLUSIONS Zinc deficiency in insulin-dependent diabetic patients is corrected by a zinc supplementation . Moreover this supplementation decreases lipid peroxidation . The effects of zinc are different in diabetic patients with or without retinopathy . The increase in Se-GPx activity observed in patients with retinopathy could be linked to the protective effect of zinc on the protein itself Purpose The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term influence of l-arginine intake on mineral concentration in patients with obesity and to assess the changes in lipid serum levels , fat content , and insulin resistance that result . Methods A r and omized double-blind placebo-controlled study was conducted . 88 obese patients were r and omly assigned to receive either 9 g of l-arginine or placebo daily , for 6 months . At baseline and after 6 months , selected anthropometrical measurements and blood biochemical analyses were performed and mineral levels were assessed . To assess insulin sensitivity , the gold-st and ard euglycemic clamp methodology was used . Results We found that 6 months of l-arginine supplementation result ed in significant increases in insulin sensitivity ( Δ1.1 mg/kg/min , P < 0.01 ) and zinc levels ( Δ1.5 μmol/L , P < 0.001 ) . Moreover , a positive correlation between the change in zinc concentration in serum and the change in insulin sensitivity was observed ( R = 0.80 , P < 0.01 ) . In the group of patients treated with l-arginine , a negative correlation between the change in zinc concentration in serum and the change in body fat content was noted ( R = −0.38 , P < 0.05 ) . Conclusions l-Arginine supplementation affects zinc status in obese patients . One beneficial influence is related to the improvements in insulin sensitivity Two studies were carried out to assess the relative roles of insulin and zinc in the acceleration of wound healing . In the first study , six diabetic and five non-diabetic human volunteers had two uniform cuts created , one on each forearm . One forearm wound was treated with topical regular insulin ( Iletin-II ) and the other with normal saline four times a day until healed . Treatment was double-blind and forearms were assigned r and omly . The wounds treated with insulin  healed 2.4 + /- 0.8 days faster than the wounds treated with saline ( P < 0.001 by paired t-test ) . Zinc is used to crystallise insulin . When wounds are treated with insulin , they are therefore also being treated with zinc . If insulin accelerates wound healing , it is not clear if the increase in the rate of healing would be due to insulin ( a known growth factor ) , the zinc it contains , or a combination of the two . The second study used a r and omised , double-blind , placebo-controlled design to compare the efficacy of insulin with that of a solution containing the same amount of zinc in accelerating the healing of st and ardised wounds in rats and humans . Although these pilot investigations did not have the power to define the relative roles of insulin and zinc with accuracy , the results suggest that zinc does play a role in the wound healing process . It is concluded that topical insulin accelerates wound healing in humans . More importantly , however , this study describes a method of creating uniform wounds in humans acceptable to an institutional review board , thus solving one of the major impediments to the scientific evaluation of human wound healing Recent studies in animals and in vitro support the hypothesis that zinc , an essential micronutrient , possesses antioxidant properties . The aims of this study were to determine whether zinc provides antioxidant protection in humans by decreasing low-density lipoprotein ( LDL ) oxidizability and to determine the effect of zinc supplementation on plasma lipid and its distribution among lipoproteins . Ten healthy male volunteers were recruited to participate in a r and omized crossover trial . Subjects were asked to consume 50 mg zinc as 220 mg zinc sulphate ( equivalent to 4 x recommended dietary intake , or RDI ) daily for 4 weeks , followed by placebo , and vice versa . Venous blood sample s were collected at 2-week intervals for the determination of plasma lipids and the in vitro oxidizability of LDL in the presence of copper ions . No changes in the oxidizability of LDL or the plasma concentrations of total cholesterol , high-density lipoprotein ( HDL ) cholesterol and its subfractions , LDL cholesterol , or triacylglycerol were observed following zinc supplementation compared to placebo .  Plasma zinc concentrations were increased significantly , indicating that the lack of effect was not due to poor compliance . The antioxidant effect of  zinc  in relation to LDL was not demonstrated in humans at this dose , and higher doses are unlikely to be effective given the adverse interaction with copper metabolism and the potential decrease in the activity of superoxide dismutase , a free radical quenching enzyme . The findings of this study suggest that zinc provides little , if any , antioxidant protection against LDL oxidation in humans Plasma levels of TSH , T4 , T3 , and reversal T3 ( rT3 ) were measured in 51 children with trisomy of the chromosome 21 and in 15 controls .  Levels of TSH were higher in children with DS than in controls and rT3 levels were decreased . However , T3 and T4 levels were in the normal range . Plasmic zinc and thymulin , a zinc-dependent thymic hormone , were also decreased . After dietary supplementation with ZnSO4 , levels of plasmic zinc , thymulin , TSH and rT3 were restored . A follow up of DS children one year after the cessation of zinc therapy showed that plasma levels of zinc decreased and TSH lightly increased . Zinc deficiency may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of thyroid gl and disfunction which leads to the autoimmune hypothyroidism often observed in this syndrome BACKGROUND Stunting is highly prevalent in Ethiopia and many other developing countries but the reason for it is poorly understood . Zinc is essential for growth but diets in such countries often do not contain zinc in sufficient quantity or of sufficient bioavailability . Thus zinc deficiency may play a major role in stunting . The aim of the study was to investigate whether the low rate of linear growth of apparently healthy breastfed infants in a rural village in Ethiopia could be improved by zinc supplementation . METHODS A r and omised , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial was done on apparently healthy breastfed infants aged 6 - 12 months . 100 non-stunted ( length-for-age , Z score < -2 ) were matched for age and sex with 100 r and omly selected stunted ( > -2 ) infants . Infants , both stunted and non stunted , were matched by sex , age ( within 2 months ) and recumbent length ( within 3 cm ) for r and om assignment , to receive a zinc supplement ( 10 mg zinc per day , as zinc sulphate ) or placebo , 6 days a week for 6 months . Anthropometric measurements were taken monthly , data on illness and appetite were collected daily , and sample s of serum and hair were taken at the end of the intervention for the analysis of zinc . FINDINGS The length of stunted infants increased significantly more ( p<0.001 ) when supplemented with zinc ( 7.0 cm [ SE 1.1 ] ) than with placebo ( 2.8 cm [ 0.9 ] ) ; and the effect was greater ( p<0.01 ) than in non-stunted infants ( 6.6 [ 0.9 ] vs 5.0 [ 0.8 ] cm for the zinc and placebo groups respectively , p<0.01 ) . Zinc supplementation also increased the weight of stunted children ( 1.73 [ 0.39 ] vs 0.95 [ 0.39 ] kg for the corresponding placebo group , p<0.001 ) and of non-stunted children ( 1.19 [ 0.39 ] vs 1.02 [ 0.32 ] kg for the corresponding placebo group , p<0.05 ) . Zinc supplementation result ed in a markedly lower incidence of anorexia and morbidity from cough , diarrhoea , fever , and vomiting in the stunted children . The total number of these conditions per child was 1.56 and 1.11 in the stunted and non-stunted zinc supplemented children versus 3.38 and 1.64 in the stunted and non-stunted placebo-treated children , respectively . At the end of the intervention period , the concentrations of zinc in serum and hair of stunted infants , who had not been supplemented with zinc , were lower than the respective concentrations of zinc in serum and hair of their non-stunted counterparts . INTERPRETATION Combating zinc deficiency can increase the growth rate of stunted children  to that of non-stunted infants in rural Ethiopia . This would appear to be due , at least in part , to reduction in morbidity from infection and increased appetite Because infants and young children in many developing countries are deficient in both iron and zinc , and zinc can affect iron metabolism , evaluation of optimum strategies to simultaneously supplement iron and zinc is an important public health priority . This study evaluated the efficacy of weekly supplementation of iron or zinc or both on iron , zinc , and copper status in Bangladeshi infants . In a double-blind , r and omized , controlled community trial , 6-mo-old infants were assigned to receive weekly supplements of 1 mg riboflavin ( control , n = 82 ) or 1 mg riboflavin + 20 mg iron ( n = 83 ) , 20 mg zinc ( n = 83 ) , or both ( n = 85 ) for 6 mo . Hemoglobin , serum ferritin , transferrin receptor , zinc , and copper concentrations were measured at baseline and at the end of intervention . Serum Zn increased in both groups receiving zinc ; the increase was greatest among children with low baseline serum zinc concentration . Iron status indicators did not differ among the groups before or after 6 mo of supplementation . Supplementation with either zinc or iron decreased serum copper after 6 mo . Joint supplementation did not alter the individual effects of iron or zinc supplementation in these Bangladeshi children . However , the dosing regimen may not have been adequate to achieve the desired biochemical effects Background Vitamin A and zinc are crucial for normal immune function , and may play a synergistic role for reducing the risk of infection including malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum . Methods A r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial of a single dose of 200 000 IU of vitamin A with daily zinc supplementation was done in children of Sourkoudougou village , Burkina Faso . Children aged from 6 to 72 months were r and omized to receive a single dose of 200 000 IU of vitamin A plus 10 mg elemental zinc , six days a week ( n = 74 ) or placebo ( n = 74 ) for a period of six months . Cross-sectional surveys were conducted at the beginning and the end of the study , and children were evaluated daily for fever . Microscopic examination of blood smear was done in the case of fever ( temperature ≥37.5 ° C ) for malaria parasite detection . Results At the end of the study we observed a significant decrease in the prevalence malaria in the supplemented group ( 34 % ) compared to the placebo group ( 3.5 % ) ( p < 0.001 ) . Malaria episodes were lower in the supplemented group ( p = 0.029 ) , with a 30.2 % reduction of malaria cases ( p = 0.025 ) . Time to first malaria episode was longer in the supplemented group ( p = 0.015 ) . The supplemented group also had 22 % fewer fever episodes than the placebo group ( p = 0.030 ) . Conclusion These results suggest that combined vitamin A plus zinc supplementation  reduces the risk of fever and clinical malaria episodes among children , and thus may play a key role in malaria control strategies for children in Africa Studies have shown that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease ( NAFLD ) patients are more prone to cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) . Zinc and selenium deficiency are common in NAFLD . But the effects of zinc and selenium co-supplementation before and /or after disease progression on CVD markers are not clear in NAFLD patients . This study aim ed to compare the effects of zinc and selenium co-supplementation before and /or after disease progression on some of the CVD markers in an experimental model of NAFLD . Forty male Sprague Dawley rats ( 197 ± 4 g ) were r and omly assigned into four dietary groups : control group ( C ; received 9 % of calorie as fat ) , model group ( M ; received 82 % of calorie as fat ) , and supplementation before ( BS ) or after ( AS ) disease progression . Animals were fed diets for 20 weeks in all groups . Fasting plasma glucose ( FPG ) , insulin , HOMA-IR , ALT , AST , lipid profile , malondialdehyde ( MDA ) and vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF ) levels were measured as CVD indices . Serum ALT , AST , FPG , insulin , MDA , VEGF and HOMA-IR were significantly higher in the M than C group . Co-supplementation reduced serum ALT and AST levels in the BS and AS groups compared with the M group . FPG , insulin , HOMA-IR , VEGF , MDA , LDL/HDL-c and TC/HDL-c ratio were significantly reduced in the AS compared with the M group . TG/HDL-c ratio was significantly reduced in the BS and AS compared with the M group . Serum MDA , VEGF , Insulin and HOMA-IR were significantly lowered in the AS than BS group ( p < 0.05 ) . Zinc and selenium co-supplementation after NAFLD progression reduced CVD risk indices in an experimental model Limited information is available on the role of iron in fatty acid metabolism in humans . We hypothesized that iron supplementation will increase desaturase activity , and so , the aim of this study was to determine the effect of iron supplementation on fatty acid desaturase activity in young women . Participants were r and omly assigned to a  control group ( CG ) or supplementation group ( SG ) who were provided with 37.4 mg of elemental iron daily for 12 weeks . Forty women completed the trial , n = 19 in CG and n = 21 in SG . The mean ages were 25.2 and 24.6 years , and body mass indices were 21.8 and 21.2 ( kg/m(2 ) ) in CG and SG , respectively  . Serum ferritin concentrations increased significantly ( P < .01 ) in subjects assigned to SG but were unchanged in CG . Serum iron concentrations were not significantly changed . Plasma zinc concentrations at the end of the intervention were similar to baseline values for individuals in CG but were decreased significantly ( P = .004 ) in SG . Plasma fatty acids , phospholipid fatty acids , and desaturase activities , expressed as precursor-to-product ratios , were not significantly affected by the intervention , although in SG the concentration of serum ferritin was correlated positively ( P < .05 ) with Δ6-desaturase activity . Supplementing non-anemic women with low dose iron improves iron status but has no significant effect on desaturase activity . The lack of a clear effect on an indirect indicator of desaturase activity may be related to the antagonism between iron and zinc , as illustrated by the decrease in plasma zinc concentrations in women who were supplemented with iron Background / objectives : Zinc is known as an essential micronutrient for human health because of its structural and biochemical functions , influencing growth and affecting multiple aspects of the immune system . Zinc has been extensively studied in neoplastic processes but its role in children with leukemia still remains to be eluci date d in several aspects . The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral zinc supplementation on weight gain and infectious episodes in children and adolescents with acute leukemia . Subjects/ methods : This study included 38 patients , and was carried out as a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled investigation . The dosage of plasma zinc levels and the evaluation of nutritional status were performed during a period of 60 days . Zinc was supplemented orally , 2 mg/kg/day , in the form of amino acid salt . Results : The results showed that plasma zinc concentrations did not increase significantly with the addition of the micronutrient . However , from a clinical point of view , it has become evident that supplementary zinc exerts a positive effect on nutritional status as positive weight gain . Moreover , the number of infection episodes was significantly reduced , possibly because of the immune stimuli . Conclusions : In conclusion , zinc supplementation can prevent some of the chemotherapy adverse effects in children with leukemia , improving their quality of life Macular degeneration associated with age and drusen , an important cause of severe visual loss in older persons , is of unknown cause . The sensory retina and retinal pigment epithelium , which are cell layers in zinc , appear to be prominently involved in the disease process . Because zinc plays a role in the metabolic function of several important enzymes in the chorioretinal complex , we undertook a prospect i ve , r and omized , double-masked , placebo-controlled investigation of the effects of oral zinc administration on the visual acuity outcome in 151 subjects with drusen or macular degeneration . Although some eyes in the zinc-treated group lost vision , this group had significantly less visual loss than the placebo group after a follow-up of 12 to 24 months . This is the first controlled oral intervention study to show a positive , if limited , treatment effect in macular degeneration , a major public health problem . Because of the pilot nature of the study and the possible toxic effects and complications of oral zinc administration , widespread use of zinc in macular degeneration is not now warranted Background : Very low birth weight infants ( < 1500 g ) have high nutritional needs . Deficiencies of minerals , trace elements ( especially zinc ) may develop as a result of rapid growth , low body stores and low content of these substances in human milk We hypothesized that fortification of human milk might prevent deficiencies . Methods : Prospect i ve , r and omized trial to evaluate mineral , trace element , thyroid status and growth of infants fed human milk fortified with different amounts of calcium , phosphorus and protein , with ( BMF ) or without ( FM 85 ) trace elements . Sixty-two infants , 1000 to 1499 g birth weight , were r and omized .  Minerals and trace elements in serum , red blood cells and human milk and alkaline phosphatase activity , TSH , T4 and FT4 in serum were measured once until the fifth day and at 3 and 6 weeks of life . Clinical course and anthropometric measurements were recorded . Results : Intake of zinc , copper , manganese , calcium , phosphorus and magnesium was higher in the BMF group ( P < 0.001 ) . Serum zinc concentrations < 0.49 mg/L occurred in 12 % of the FM 85 group and 7 % of the BMF group at 6 weeks ( not significant ) . Median alkaline phosphatase activity was 436/379 IU/L in the FM 85/BMF group at 6 weeks ( P < 0.01 ) . The FM 85 group showed a higher weight gain ( P < 0.05 ) , possibly because of higher caloric ( P < 0.01 ) and protein intake ( P < 0.05 ) at 3 weeks . Conclusions : Zinc deficiency was rare . Elevated intake of calcium , phosphorus and zinc was associated with lower serum alkaline phosphatase activity but did not influence serum zinc concentration Disturbances of zinc homeostasis have been observed in several diseases , including diabetes mellitus . To further characterize the association between zinc and diabetes , we recruited 75 patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and 75 nondiabetic sex-/age-matched control subjects in order to analyze differences concerning human zinc transporter 8 ( hZnT-8 ) expression , single nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNPs ) in the genes of hZnT-8 as well as metallothionein 1A and serum/intracellular zinc . Furthermore , we investigated the relation between insulin and zinc homeostasis in type 2 diabetic subjects and consoli date d our results by in vitro analysis of the effect of insulin on cellular zinc status and by analysis of the modulation of insulin signal transduction by intracellular zinc homeostasis . Concerning the expression of hZnT-8 and the SNPs analyzed , we did not observe any differences between diabetic and control subjects . Serum zinc was significantly lower in diabetic patients compared to controls , and intracellular zinc showed the same tendency . Interestingly , type 2 diabetes patients treated with insulin displayed lower serum zinc compared to those not injecting insulin . In vitro analyses showed that insulin leads to an increase in intracellular zinc and that insulin signaling was enhanced by elevated intracellular zinc concentrations . In conclusion , we show that type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients suffer from zinc deficiency , and our results indicate that zinc supplementation may qualify as a potential treatment adjunct in type 2 diabetes by promoting insulin signaling , especially in zinc-deficient subjects
In conclusion , Zinc supplementation  has favourable effects on plasma lipid parameters .
Zinc supplementation  significantly reduced total cholesterol , LDL cholesterol and triglycerides .
Therefore it may have the potential to reduce the incidence of atherosclerosis related morbidity and mortality
Zinc is a mineral that plays a vital role in many biological processes and plays an important role in insulin action and carbohydrate metabolism .
It may also have a protective role in the prevention of atherogenesis .
Numerous studies have evaluated the effects of Zinc supplementation on serum lipids in humans and have demonstrated varying results .
We systematic ally evaluated the literature and performed a meta- analysis on the effects of Zinc supplementation on serum lipids .