title: Immediate Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Plasma/Serum Zinc Levels: A Meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Zinc is involved in numerous metabolic roles, including energy metabolism, immunity, and antioxidative effects. Zinc losses during exercise, in particular through sweat, are well documented. However, conflicting results have been reported for changes in circulating and tissue zinc concentration as a result of exercise. The purpose of this article is to quantify the immediate effect of aerobic exercise on plasma or serum zinc levels, in healthy participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed articles published up to December 20, 2014, to identify studies that investigated the acute effects of exercise on selected indices of zinc status. Meta-analyses were conducted to determine the change in serum zinc concentration immediately after a bout of aerobic exercise.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-five studies were included in the systematic literature review. Of the included studies, sufficient data were available from 34 studies (providing 46 comparisons) to quantify the change in serum zinc concentration after exercise. Serum zinc concentration was significantly higher immediately after exercise (0.45 ± 0.12 μmol·L(-1), P < 0.001; mean ± SE). Secondary analyses showed greater increase in serum zinc for untrained individuals and exercise sessions that involved running or maximal intensity. Insufficient data were available to determine the effects of exercise on urinary, sweat, and erythrocyte zinc.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present systematic review and meta-analysis indicated significant increase in serum zinc concentration immediately after an aerobic exercise session, suggesting acute perturbations in zinc homeostasis. Further research is required to ascertain the long-term effects of exercise on zinc metabolism and potential consequences for dietary zinc requirement for physically active populations.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, NEW ZEALAND; 2Department of Statistics, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; and 3Discipline of Nutrition and Metabolism, School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Petocz
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Samman
mesh_terms: D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015032:Zinc