1. Introduction
ulcerative colitis, diarrhea, Zn-Asp, Zn-Glu, diabetic, milk to healthy human
RECURRENCE, ULCERATIVE COLITIS, DISEASE, DIARRHEAL DISEASES, COLD SYMPTOMS
(1) Background: Zinc is generally used as a nutritional supplement for individuals at nutritional risk, such as older adults. This preliminary study investigated the fractional Zn absorption (FZA) after the supplementation on eight healthy volunteers with three different Zn complexes acquired with milk. (2) Methods: The design was a double-blind, three-period crossover trial. The volunteers were randomly divided into three groups. Each individual consumed 200 mL of bovine milk and rotated through a simultaneous administration of a single oral dose of Zinc (Zn) is a trace element that plays a crucial role in various physiological processes for human health. Over 300 enzymes in the body require Zn for proper functioning, making it a vital component in most biochemical pathways. Zn is essential for immune cell development and function, wound healing, and DNA synthesis [Therefore, maintaining adequate Zn intake is crucial for optimal health. Though the recommended daily intake (RDI) of Zn varies depending on age and gender, the general guideline for adults is around 8–11 mg/day [Interest in human Zn nutrition has increased due to the growing consumption of unrefined cereal grains, which contain high levels of phytic acid. Phytic acid is a potent inhibitor of Zn absorption [To address Zn deficiency, a variety of Zn supplements and Zn-enriched foods, including milk, have been developed in recent years and are now available on the market. Zn supplementation has been demonstrated to effectively treat Zn deficiency and improve various health outcomes. For instance, supplementing with Zn has been found to reduce the duration and severity of cold symptoms, enhance wound healing, and improve immune function [The bioavailability and functional outcomes of Zn can be influenced by the food matrix or the form of Zn used in the supplement [Water-soluble Zn salts, including gluconate, sulfate, and acetate, are frequently utilized as supplements in tablet or syrup form to prevent Zn deficiency and treat diarrhea in children in conjunction with oral rehydration [Zn sulfate administration in diabetic patients resulted in a significant reduction in triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein–cholesterol levels, and systolic blood pressure [Oral ingestion of Zn acetate has been shown to reduce recurrence of respiratory and diarrheal diseases [There are concerns regarding reduced Zn absorption when given with milk or in the presence of high calcium [Previous studies have shown that Zn-Glu intervention in patients with ulcerative colitis improves their nutritional status and positively influences their clinical outcome, emphasizing the importance of Zn as a dietary component in disease control [Supplementation with Zn-Asp (48 ± 2 days) at a dose of 10 mg/day as Zn aspartate resulted in a general increase in Zn levels in the supplemented sample, particularly in those with IL-6-174 polymorphism [Despite several studies investigating the impact of amino acids on zinc absorption, contradictory results have prevented the formulation of a general statement regarding the effect of amino acids on zinc bioavailability [In this context, only a few studies have compared the bioavailability of various Zn supplements, likely due to the lengthy and laborious fecal collection required to calculate the mass balance between the administered isotopic dose and subsequent tracer excretion [In this preliminary study, we employed this method to determine whether differences in fractional Zn absorption (FZA) could be observed when Zn was administered in sulfate salt, gluconate, or aspartate form with milk to healthy human volunteers.