Sensitivity of zinc kinetics and nutritional assessment of children submitted to venous zinc tolerance test.
OBJECTIVE
The purposes of this study were to investigate the kinetics of zinc in schoolchildren between the ages of 6 and 9 years, of both sexes, and to verify its sensitivity in detecting alterations in body zinc status.


METHODS
Nutritional assessment was performed by body mass index. Food intake, venous zinc tolerance test, and zinc kinetics were carried out before and after 3-month oral zinc supplementation.


RESULTS
Of the 42 children studied, 76.2% had healthy weight. Only energy, calcium, and fiber intake were suboptimal before and after oral zinc supplementation. Serum zinc and total-body zinc clearance, although at normal levels, increased significantly after zinc supplementation.


CONCLUSIONS
We concluded, therefore, that kinetics is a sensitive tool for detecting changes in body zinc status, even in children without a deficiency of this mineral. Furthermore, kinetics showed a positive response to supplementation and may be a sensitive parameter for evaluating the efficacy of this therapy.
Leite
Lúcia Dantas
LD
Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences (PPGCSA), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN, BRAZIL.
de Medeiros Rocha
Erika Dantas
ED
das Graças Almeida
Maria
M
Rezende
Adriana Augusto
AA
da Silva
Carlos Antônio Bruno
CA
França
Mardone Cavalcante
MC
Marchini
Júlio Sérgio
JS
Brandão-Neto
José
J
D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
D001798:Blood Proteins; D006454:Hemoglobins; D003404:Creatinine; D015032:Zinc