title: Influence of an iron intervention on the zinc status of young adult New Zealand women with mild iron deficiency.
abstract: Interventions to combat mild Fe deficiency in women of childbearing age may affect Zn nutriture. We used dietary and laboratory indices to assess change in Zn status during a 4-month partially blinded placebo-controlled Fe intervention in women with low Fe stores (serum ferritin < 20 microg/l and Hb > or = 120 g/l) from Dunedin, New Zealand. Subjects aged 18-40 years were randomly assigned to three groups: dietary advice (diet group; DG; n 29), daily Fe supplement with meals (supplement group; SG; n 23; 50 mg Fe as amino acid chelate) and placebo (placebo group; PG, n 26). A validated semi-quantitative FFQ (SFFQ) was administered at baseline, and at 4, 8 and 15 weeks; fasting morning blood samples were assayed for serum Zn, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and C-reactive protein at baseline, and at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks; hair Zn and taste detection thresholds by electrogustometry were measured at baseline and at 16 weeks. Intakes of flesh foods and vitamin C but not Zn or Fe increased, whereas phytate and phytate:Zn molar ratios decreased (all P < or = 0.01) in the DG compared with the PG and SG, based on three SFFQ. Serum Zn increased in both the DG and PG (adjusted, P < or = 0.002), so the between-group difference was not significant; the lack of a parallel rise in the SG was significant when compared with the PG (P = 0.02). ALP activity (but not hair Zn or taste acuity) followed a similar trend. In conclusion, Zn status was not improved compared with placebo by an Fe-based dietary intervention. However, a daily moderate-dose Fe supplement with meals appeared to lower Zn status in these young adult women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. nicolasprosser@gmail.com
authors.forename: Nicolas R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Prosser
authors.forename: Anne-Louise M
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Heath
authors.forename: Sheila M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Rosalind S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Gibson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood*; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003376:Counseling; D004034:Diet Surveys; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008460:Meat; D010833:Phytic Acid / Q000097:blood; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013652:Taste Threshold; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055815:Young Adult; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D019266:Iron, Dietary; D014131:Trace Elements; D010833:Phytic Acid; D005293:Ferritins; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D015032:Zinc; D001205:Ascorbic Acid