title: The Relationship between Zinc Status and Inflammatory Marker Levels in Rural Korean Adults Aged 40 and Older.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Serum cytokines and C-reactive protein (CRP) are known as one of the major risk factors in atherosclerosis. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of zinc have been suggested, but few data are available on the relationship between zinc status and inflammatory markers in epidemiological studies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study aims to investigate the cross-sectional relationships of serum cytokines and CRP with dietary zinc intake and serum zinc levels in healthy men and women aged 40 and older in rural areas of South Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 1,055 subjects (404 men, 651 women) was included in dietary zinc analysis while another group of 695 subjects (263 men, 432 women) was included in serum zinc analysis. Serum IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP were measured as inflammatory markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant inverse relationship between dietary zinc intake and inflammatory markers. We found a significant inverse relationship between serum zinc levels and all three inflammatory markers in women (P for trend = 0.0236 for IL-6; P for trend = 0.0017 for TNF-α; P for trend = 0.0301 for CRP) and between serum zinc levels and a single inflammatory marker (IL-6) in men (P for trend = 0.0191), although all R2 values by regression were less than 10%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, serum zinc levels may be inversely related to inflammatory markers (IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP), particularly in women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea; Institute for Health and Society, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sukyoung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea; Institute for Health and Society, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Mi Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea; Institute for Health and Society, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Bo Youl
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015032:Zinc