title: Zinc supplementation has no effect on lipoprotein metabolism, hemostasis, and putative indices of copper status in healthy men.
abstract: Pharmacological doses of zinc can adversely affect body copper status. The resulting copper deficiency can impact directly upon cholesterol metabolism and a suboptimal copper status has been observed to influence markers of hemostasis (specifically fibrinogen and the copper-containing coagulation factors V and VIII). The aim of this investigation was to examine the effect of a low level of zinc supplementation, to include dietary intake, at the United States tolerable upper intake level of 40 mg/d upon indicators of lipid metabolism, hemostasis, and copper. Thirty-eight subjects were recruited onto a double-blind placebo-controlled intervention trial and randomly selected to one of two groups. Group 1 took zinc supplements (30 mg/d) for 14 wk followed by copper supplements (3 mg/d) for 8 wk (to counteract adverse effects, if any, of zinc supplementation). A second group took placebo supplements for the full duration of the trial. Estimated dietary zinc intake approximated 10 mg/d. The effect of supplement was analyzed by repeated-measures analysis of variance (anova). Results indicate that no effect of zinc supplementation on putative indices of copper status, lipoprotein metabolism, and markers of hemostasis. These results indicate that short-term low-level zinc supplementation (total intake 40 mg/d) is not detrimental to health.
authors.affiliation: Northern Ireland Centre for Diet and Health (NICHE), University of Ulster at Coleraine, BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: Maxine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonham
authors.forename: Jacqueline M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Liadhan B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: McAnena
authors.forename: Paula M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: C Stephen
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Downes
authors.forename: Bernadette M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Hannigan
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Strain
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006262:Health; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019055:No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D008074:Lipoproteins; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc