• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.182-188
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• 1999

A study was conducted on a group of 107 women, attending the three peripheral community clinics in Seoul and Kyunggi area for their prenatal care, to ascertain the relationship between maternal serum zinc concentration measured in pregnancy and several pregnancy outcomes. The serum zinc concentration was adjusted for estimated gestational age at the time of drawing blood. Mean daily zinc intake of the pregnant women estimated by a 24-hour recall method was 7.68$\pm$3.70$\mu\textrm{g}$/dl, 51% of RDA. and mean serum zinc concentration of the women was 94.03$\pm$36.99ug/dl. Adjusted maternal serum zinc level was significantly related to gestational maternal weight gain(p<0.05) and infant birth weight(p<0.05). Pregnant women with tgreater than 9kg weight gain during the gestation period had higher adjusted serum zinc levels than the subjects with less than 8kg weight gain. Adjusted serum zinc levels of mothers who delivered 3.0-3.5kg and greater than 4.0kg birth-weight infants were higher than those of mothers of low-birth-weight infants. Any association between maternal serum zinc level and gestational length, complications and morning sickness was not observed. There results suggest that the maternal serum zinc level may predict perhaps the author could be none specific.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1110-1117
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• 1993

The purpose of this was to analyse zinc intakes and effect of Zn(30mgZnSO4/day) supplementation on plasma zinc level, serum HDL-cholesterol and serum Alkaline Phosphatase (AP) activity of Korean adults. The men consumed 8.52($\pm$2.08)mg of zinc, and the women consumed 6.4($\pm$2.62)mg of zinc. Although protein intakes of subjects were lower than normal values. The first source of zinc was cereal and grain group, the second was meat, fish, egg and soybean group. Two food groups supplied about 80% of zinc. After two weeks of zinc supplementation, the zinc concentration in plasma was significantly increased. The highest plasma zinc level was 78.80ug/dl(men), 76.04ug/dl(women) at 2 weeks after zinc supplementation(p<0.05). Serum DHL-cholesterol was significantly decreased by zinc supplementation. The lowest serum HDL-cholesterol level was 39.29mg/dl(men), 44.84mg/dl(women) at 4 weeks after zinc supplementation(p<0.01). Serum AP activity was significantly increased by zinc supplementation. The highest AP activity was 86.40units/L(man), 67.93units/L(women) at 2 weeks after zinc supplementation(p<0.05). It seems that the supplementation of 30mg ZnSO4/day can be beneficial for improving zinc nutriture. However it can be negative factor on coronary heart disease because serum HDL-cholesterol was significantly decreased(p<0.01)

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.383-386
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• 2011

Acrodermatitis enteropathica due to zinc deficiency is characterized by periorificial dermatitis, alopecia, and intractable diarrhea. Here we report a case of transient acrodermatitis enteropathica in a 2-month-old preterm infant, whose skin is erythematous, scaly, eczematous, with an eruption starting from the periorificial area. While her serum zinc level was normal at 118.2 ug/dL, the serum alkaline phosphatase level was low at 48 IU/L and the serum alkaline phosphatase level get increased concordant with clinical improvement after zinc supplementation. Hence, this case shows that the diagnosis of zinc deficiency can be aided with a low level of serum alkaline phoaphatase although serum zinc level is normal.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.385-394
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to determine the zinc status of preschool children in Ulsan. The study was conducted in 95 children aged 3 to 6 years by investigating the anthropometric indices and assessing the biochemical analysis. The blood was analysed to assess serum zinc and alkaline phosphatase. And a questionnaire for dietary intakes using 24-hr recall method were performed by mothers of 95 subjects. The dietary intakes of children were analysed to determine the prevalence of inadequate and excessive intakes of zinc with Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRIs). WHL (Weight-Length Index) and Kaup index were used to define obesity. The overall prevalence of overweight and obese subjects were 14.7% and 6.3% by WHL, were 15.8% and 13.7% by Kaup index. The mean intakes of zinc by children aged 3${\sim}$5y and 6y were 5.5 ${\pm}$ 1.4 mg/d (75.7% RDA) and 6.7 ${\pm}$ 2.0 mg/d, respectively, that was the level exceeding the estimated average requirement (EAR) and the recommended intake (RI) of Korean Dietary Reference Intakes. Less than 1.3% and 7.9% of children had usual zinc intakes below EAR and RI of KDRIs, respectively. The percentages of children with intakes exceeding the tolerable upper intake level (UL) were 2.6%. The zinc nutritional status by biological assay was found that mean serum zinc and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of total subjects were 64.0 ${\pm}$ 8.4 ${\mu}$g/dl and 72.8 ${\pm}$ 14.9 U/L, there was not a significant difference between boys and girls. The range of serum zinc level was 45${\sim}$89 ${\mu}$g/dl and children with a low serum zinc concentration by several cut-off points were 18.9${\sim}$55.8%, especially. Serum zinc level was positively correlated to the intakes of calorie, calcium, fiber, iron, zinc, zinc/kg and height (p<0.001). Serum ALP was positively correlated height, weight and WLI. The zinc intake of children aiso showed a positive correlation with height and weight. These results indicate that there were significant correlations between the zinc status and growth of preschool children. Preschool children in Ulsan have dietary zinc intakes that exceed the new DRIs. The present level of intake does not seem to pose a health problem, but if zinc intakes with fortified foods and supplements were considered, the amount of zinc consumed by children may become excessive.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.217-222
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• 2012

Purpose: We conducted this study to study the clinical correlation between the characteristics of gastric cancer and serum selenium and zinc levels. Materials and Methods: The following data were measured in the baseline serum selenium and zinc levels of 74 patients with curative gastrectomy subsequent to confirmed gastric cancer, from March 2005 to August 2012. Results: Among the 74 gastric cancer patients, 53 patients were male. Mean serum selenium and zinc levels were $118.7{\pm}33.1$ ug/L and $72.2{\pm}24.3$ ug/dl, respectively. Seven patients (9.5%) showed lower selenium level, and 33 patients (44.6%) showed lower zinc level. Serum Selenium level was $99.1{\pm}31.8$ ug/L in cardia cancer group (10 cases) and $121.8{\pm}32.4$ ug/L in non-cardia cancer group (64 cases)(P=0.044). According to tumor gross type, zinc level was $78.7{\pm}29.6$ ug/dl in early gastric cancer (33) and $66.9{\pm}17.8$ ug/dl in advanced gastric cancer (41) (P=0.064). Conclusions: The serum selenium level was highly correlated with the location of gastric cancer. The serum zinc level was lower in advanced gastric cancer.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.534-541
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• 2012

This study examined salty taste acuity and salty taste preference and sodium intake in relation to zinc nutritional status in 2 rural populations in Korea. And we also examined the main food contributors of their sodium intakes. We enrolled 218 adults (66 men and 152 women) from the Kangneung and Samcheok regions in Korea's Kangwon province in our study conducted from December 2011 to February 2012. Participants from each region were divided into 3 groups based on their serum zinc level (T1: lowest, T2: intermediate, T3: highest). We compared the salty taste acuity and preference, Na index (Dish Frequency Questionnaire for estimation of habitual sodium intake), blood pressure, and intakes of nutrients including sodium by 3 groups of serum zinc level. The results were as follows: a higher serum zinc level indicated a lower sodium intake and Na index (P<0.05). The salty taste acuity was considerably higher for participants from the Kangneung region than those from the Samcheok region (P<0.05). And the serum zinc level was significantly higher in participants from the Kangneung region than those from the Samcheok region (P<0.05). We further divided the participants into 2 groups: those who consumed more zinc than the recommended intake (RI) and the others. We compared salty taste acuity and salty taste preference in the 2 groups. The salty taste threshold and palatable salty taste concentrations were lower for the group with a zinc intake above RI than for the group with zinc intake below the RI. However, the difference was not significant. This study confirms that taste function differs depending on zinc nutritional status. In future, it is required to a large-scale, long-term, prospective study on the correlation between zinc intake, serum zinc levels, and taste perception function and blood pressure.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.517-523
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• 2000

The effect of dietary zinc deficiency and age on lipid peroxide level was investigaed in rats. Zinc level in serum and liver were also measured. Fifty Sprague-Dawly male rats aging 8 months(older rats) and 2 months(younger rats) were used as experimental animal. Zinc deficient diet(1.1ppm) and normal zinc diet(36.5ppm) were used as experimental diets. Rats in each age group were divided into zinc deficient(ZnDF), zinc pair-fed(ZnPF) and zinc ad-libitum(ZnAL) to remove the variances of food intake. After 4 weeks of experimetal period, rats were sacrificed. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance(TBARS) levels in plasma and liver, lipofuscin and conjugated diene levels in liver were measured as lipid peroxide index. Food intakes of all groups were not different because zinc deficiency did not reduce food intake in ZnDF group. Younger rats gained weight continuously, while older rats lost weight in the begining of experiment and regained afterwards. In older rats, serum zinc level was decreaed while plasma TBARS. level was increased in ZnDF group. In younger rats, plasma TBARS concentration was increased in dietary zinc deficient rats although serum zinc concentration was not reduced. Liver zinc concentration was significantly higher in older rats comparing to younger rats. However, there was no difference among the three dietary groups. Liver TBARS level was not different by age or dietary zinc level. However it was tended to be higher in older rats. However there was no difference by the dietary zinc level. In both age groups, ZnDF group significantly increased plasma TBARS levels, which suggested dietary zinc deficiency could increase lipid peroxidation in part. Significantly higher levels of lipofuscin and conjugated diene in older rats suggested lipid peroxidation was accelerated by aging.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.259-268
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• 2016

Purpose: Zinc deficiency can induce serious clinical problems in the gastrointestinal (GI) system and immune system and can affect growth and development. It is more severe in younger patients. Chronic zinc deficiency is reflected more precisely in hair than in serum. We studied hair zinc levels and other hair and serum micronutrients in chronic malnourished children to identify which micronutrients are affected or correlated with the other ones. Methods: Hair mineral analyses were performed in 56 children (age, 1-15 years) presenting with malnutrition, poor growth, poor appetite, anorexia, with/without other GI symptoms (diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation) from August 2012 to March 2015. Biochemical studies for macronutrients and major micronutrients were also conducted. Results: Hair zinc deficiency was diagnosed in 88%, and serum zinc deficiency was diagnosed in 55% of the children. There was no statistical correlation between serum and tissue zinc level. Hair zinc levels were highly correlated with serum vitamin D (r=-0.479, p=0.001), which also showed correlation with hair levels of magnesium and calcium. (r=0.564, 0.339, p=0.001, 0.011). Hair calcium level was correlated with serum pre-albumin (r=0.423, p=0.001). These correlations may explain the phenomenon that the major clinical manifestation of zinc deficiency is poor body growth. Clinical symptoms were resolved in most children after zinc supplementation. Conclusion: Hair zinc and mineral analyses are useful as a therapeutic guide in the clinical investigation of children with malnutrition and poor growth.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.80-86
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• 1990

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of dietary zinc and ethanol on the zinc content of serum and tissues. Eight male rats of Sprague-Dawley strain with average weight of 80$\pm$5g were divided into five groups such as C group: ad libitum control diet(100 ppm Zn) plus isocaloric sucrose solution CE group ; ad libitum control diet plus 25% ethanol solution PF group ; pair fed control to zinc deficient diet(5ppm Zn) plus isocaloric sucrose solution ZD grop ; ad libitum zinc deficient diet plus isocaloric sucrose solution and ZDE group ; ad libitum zinc deficient diet plus 25% ethanol solution. The rats were sacrificed after 4 and 7 weeks of feeding periods. The liver weights of ZD and ZDF groups were increased however the weight of testis was decreased in the same groups The content of serum zinc was infiuenced by the dietary zinc level and the amount was significantly decreased in the ZD group. The content of liver zinc was influnced by the dietary zinc level and the amount was decreased by ethanol feeding. The content of testis zinc was significantly low in the ZDE group. The zinc level of feces to be increased by the ethanol feeding.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.40-43
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• 2000

Pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC) and N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) are metal and nonmetal-chelating antioxidant which can induce rat and human smooth muscle cell death. When the smooth muscle cells from mouse aorta (MASMC) that we successfully cultured recently was exposed to PDTC and NAC in a normal serum state, the cells were induced to death by these compounds. However, PDTC did not induce the cell death in a serum depleted medium. This data suggests that certain factors in the serum may mediate the cytotoxic effect of PDTC. The metal chelator, Ca-EDTA blocked PDTC-induced cell death, but Cu-, Fe-, and Zn-EDTA did not block the PDTC-induced cell death. This data indicated that copper, iron, and zinc in the serum may lead to the cytotoxic effect of PDTC. Investigation of the intracellular zinc level in PDTC-induced smooth muscle cell death using the zinc probe dye N-(6-methoxy-8-quinolyl)-p-toluenesulfonamide shows that only the muscle-containing layers of the arteries have higher level of zinc. As expected, PDTC increased the intracellular fluorescence level of the zinc. In agreement with these results, the addition of an exogenous metal, zinc, induced the vascular aortic smooth muscle cell death which led to an increased intracellular zinc level. We concluded that PDTC induced mouse aortic smooth muscle cell death required not only zinc level but also intracellular copper and iron level. The mechanism of this antioxidant to induce vascular smooth muscle cell death may provide a new strategy to prevent their proliferation in arteriosclerotic lesions.