title: Zinc intake and status in middle-aged and older European subjects: the ZENITH study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Inadequate intakes of micronutrients in elderly negatively affect the nutritional status. Zinc is an essential micronutrient in the elderly, especially in relation to its impact on immune function, bone mass, cognitive function and oxidative stress. However, data are lacking on zinc intake and status during normal ageing. In this study, we evaluate the intake and status of zinc in late middle-aged and older free-living subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dietary zinc intake and zinc status in 188 middle-aged subjects from Clermont-Ferrand (Fr) and Coleraine (UK), and in 199 older subjects from Grenoble (Fr) and Roma (It) were assessed at the entry in the ZENITH study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In relation to the zinc RDA for people older than 55 y, zinc intakes in most of the middle-aged and older subjects (more than 96%) in the present study were adequate. Older people had significantly lower (P < 0.01) energy intakes as compared to middle-aged. Zinc intake expressed per MJ was also significantly (P < 0.01) higher in older people compared to middle-aged. Erythrocyte and urinary zinc concentrations were significantly (P < 0.001) higher in middle-aged subjects compared to older ones. The prevalence of biological Zn deficiency in free-living ageing European people was low (<5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study showed a relatively low prevalence of zinc deficiencies in healthy free-living late middle-age and older subjects. These results should be useful for health professionals to have reference data on zinc intake and status for a healthy ageing.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Nutrition Vieillissement et Maladies Cardiovasculaires, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Joseph Fourier, Domaine de la Merci, La Tronche, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andriollo-Sanchez
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hininger-Favier
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Meunier
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Toti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaccaria
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brandolini-Bunlon
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polito
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferry
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coudray
authors.forename: A-M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Roussel
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012016:Reference Values; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency
chemical_list: D015032:Zinc