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Zinc (Zn) absorption during the third trimester in pregnant rural Southern Ethiopian women
Author(s) -
Hambidge Michael,
Gibson Rosalind S,
Cooper Jennifer C,
Abebe Yewelsew,
Westcott Jamie E,
Stoecker Barbara J,
Bailey Kevin,
Krebs Nancy F
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a629
Subject(s) - population , morning , urine , zoology , zinc , chemistry , medicine , biology , endocrinology , environmental health , organic chemistry
The objective of this research was to compare the quantity of zinc absorbed by pregnant (>24 wks gestation) rural Southern Ethiopian women of the Sidama linguistic/ethnic population at the beginning of the rainy season with calculated physiologic requirements. The 17 subjects, a subgroup of a larger study population (n = 99), were studied in their homes whilst on their habitual diets based on maize and fermented enset with no flesh foods and phytate:Zn molar ratio of 30:1. Weighed food records were obtained for either 1 or 2 days. Representative samples of foods consumed by the larger study population were analyzed and the mean Zn concentration for these foods used in calculating dietary Zn intake for each subject. For this subgroup, an extrinsic Zn stable isotope tracer was administered with all meals for one day with a 2nd Zn stable isotope administered IV on the same day. Fractional absorption of Zn (FAZ) was measured by a dual isotope ratio technique based on enrichment measures in morning urine samples collected 4‐8 days post‐administration. Mean (± SD) FAZ = 0.36 ± 0.11; mean ingested Zn = 4.68 ± 1.96 mg Zn/d; mean absorption (FAZ*ingested Zn) = 1.65 ± 0.77 mg Zn/d. In conclusion, average absorption of Zn by this population is extremely low compared with estimated physiologic requirements. Supported by “Brain Disorders in the Developing World: Research across the Lifespan,” Fogarty International Center/NIH R21 TW006729.