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A comparison of zinc metabolism and status among young and older Korean women
Author(s) -
Kim Jihye,
Paik Hee Young,
Joung Hyojee,
Woodhouse Leslie R,
King Janet C
Publication year - 2009
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.23.1_supplement.922.4
Subject(s) - zinc , feces , excretion , metabolism , isotopes of zinc , urine , chemistry , medicine , physiology , endocrinology , zoology , biology , paleontology , organic chemistry
This study was done to determine the effect of age on zinc metabolism and status among healthy Korean women. Zinc measures were assessed in 8 young and 7 elderly women. Oral and intravenous tracers enriched in 67 Zn and 70 Zn, were administered. Multiple plasma and 24‐h urines were collected for 5 d with complete fecal samples for 9 d after isotope administration. In the young women, additional plasma samples were collected to determine zinc kinetics. The size of the Exchangeable Zinc Pool (EZP) was estimated by Miller's method. Plasma zinc was higher in older women than younger women ( p <0.05). EZP, EZP/kg, and urinary zinc tended to be higher in older women than younger women. Fractional and total zinc absorption and endogenous fecal zinc losses did not differ between young and older women. The zinc kinetics of the Korean and American women showed no differences in plasma or EZP parameters. However, total absorbed zinc and zinc flux to slowly turning over tissues (Q7) was significantly lower in Korean women than that of Americans ( p < 0.01). The zinc status of older Korean women, as measured by plasma zinc and EZP was higher than that of the younger women although there were no changes in zinc absorption or endogenous fecal excretion. The young Korean women absorbed less zinc and transferred less zinc to Q7 than American women suggesting the total body zinc content of the Korean women is lower than that of their American counterparts.