title: Zinc status as compared to zinc intake and iron status: a case study of Iranian populations from Isfahan province.
abstract: The aim of this study was to estimate the zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) status of different age groups in rural (Rooran) and suburban (Khomeini Shahr) populations in central Iran, to relate the Zn status to Zn intake from animal and plant foods, and to examine the relationship between Zn and Fe status. Blood samples from 341 subjects including preschool children (27), schoolchildren (157), women (91), and men (66) were analyzed for serum zinc (SZn), serum ferritin (SF), total C-reactive protein, and hemoglobin. Daily Zn and phytic acid (PA) intakes from major food groups were estimated using a 3-day weighed food record. The overall prevalence of Zn deficiency based on low SZn was 5.9 % in Rooran and 7.2 % in Khomeini Shahr. Anemia was higher in the village than in the suburb (33.5 % vs. 22.7 %; p = 0.04) and almost half of the anemia in Khomeini Shahr and 36 % in Rooran was associated with iron deficiency (ID) based on low SF. The PA:Zn molar ratio in the diet was 10 - 13, indicating a diet of moderate Zn bioavailability. About 18 % of the population consumed less Zn than their WHO Estimated Average Requirements. There was no association between Zn status and Fe status. The modest prevalence of Zn deficiency in the study populations can be explained by a relatively high Zn intake from animal source foods. Anemia however is a serious public health problem affecting some 30 % of the subjects, with almost half due to ID. The lower Fe status than Zn status could be due to the frequent consumption of tea and dairy products.
authors.affiliation: ETH Zurich, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystem, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nazanin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abbaspour
authors.affiliation: ETH Zurich, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wegmueller
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Child Health Promotion Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Roya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kelishadi
authors.affiliation: ETH Zurich, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystem, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schulin
authors.affiliation: ETH Zurich, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Richard F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Hurrell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005293:Ferritins; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Iramian diet; Zinc deficiency; iron deficiency; serum zinc