1. Introduction
Obesity, obesity, Anxiety, neurological impairment, anxiety, cognitive impairment, dementia, overweight, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, metabolic dysfunction, mood of overweight or obese, depression, cognitive decline, weight loss
OBESITY, OBESITY, OBESE, ADVERSE EFFECTS, ZINC DEFICIENCY, ZINC DEFICIENCY, COMPLICATIONS
Obesity has been linked to cognitive decline and adverse effects on brain health. Zinc (Zn) is a mineral with important metabolic functions that can modulate obesity-related neurological impairment. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of 12 weeks of Zn supplementation on the inflammatory profile, cognitive function, and mood of overweight or obese women through a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The study included 42 women aged between 40 and 60, randomly divided into two groups: Zn supplementation (30 mg/day) or placebo for 12 weeks. Data regarding sociodemographic, anthropometric, dietary, and physical activity were collected. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE), verbal fluency test, clock drawing test, and Stroop test were performed. Anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed using the Beck anxiety inventory and the BDI-II, respectively. Saliva samples were collected to evaluate IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, insulin, nitrite, and Zn levels. Of the 42 participants (mean age 49.58 ± 6.46 years), 32 were included in the study analyses. Changes in body weight and macronutrient consumption were not different between placebo and Zn supplementation groups. Cognitive scores on the MMSE and Stroop tests were higher in the Zn supplementation group than in the placebo group. Salivary levels of IL-1b and Zn increased in the Zn group compared to placebo. There was no significant change in the adjusted means of the BDI-II and BECK scores between the zinc vs. placebo groups. Twelve weeks of Zn supplementation was able to partially improve the cognitive scores assessed in overweight or obese women, regardless of weight loss. These findings suggest that Zn supplementation can be considered an adjunct strategy to enhance cognitive health in overweight or obese women.Zinc (Zn) plays an essential role in biological processes, including modulation of gene transcription, cell signaling pathways, enzyme activity, and regulation of metabolic and brain function [It has been stated that zinc deficiency is associated with comorbidities such as obesity, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, and cognitive decline [Zinc deficiency in obesity may further contribute to a chronic inflammatory state and increase the susceptibility to related complications [Recently, the relationship between increased body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) with cognitive decline and dementia in the elderly was described [Considering that Zn supplementation may minimize metabolic dysfunction and thus exert neuroprotective effects, reducing obesity-related cognitive impairment, the present study aimed to evaluate the impact of zinc supplementation on inflammatory and cognitive parameters in middle-aged overweight or obese women aged 40 to 60 years.