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Relationship between plasma zinc concentrations and clinical signs of zinc deficiency (1043.9)
Author(s) -
Wessells K. Ryan,
King Janet,
Brown Kenneth
Publication year - 2014
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.28.1_supplement.1043.9
Subject(s) - zinc , medicine , point of zero charge , zinc deficiency (plant disorder) , gastroenterology , biomarker , cutoff , chemistry , biochemistry , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , aqueous solution
Plasma zinc concentration (PZC) is a recommended biomarker to assess zinc (Zn) status and the risk of Zn deficiency in populations. However, the relationship between PZC and clinical signs of Zn deficiency remains uncertain. Thus, we analyzed available data from dietary Zn restriction studies and case reports of acrodermatitis enteropathica (AE) to determine a PZC cutoff below which individuals would have an increased likelihood of having clinical signs associated with Zn deficiency. In studies of dietary zinc restriction (<1 mg zinc/d), the mean ± SD PZC at baseline was 82.3 ± 14.8 μg/dL and decreased significantly following a 15‐63 d depletion period (‐33.1 ± 16.5 μg/dL, P < 0.01); final PZC were significantly lower among individuals who developed clinical signs than those who did not (36.0 ± 16.8 vs. 67.9 ± 13.3 µg/dL, P < 0.01). In studies of AE patients, median (IQR) PZC was 35.0 (24.1, 47.4) µg/dL when individuals displayed clinical signs, and increased to 108.0 (79.3, 127.0) µg/dL when clinical signs first disappeared following treatment (P < 0.01). PZC predicted clinical signs with 88% sensitivity and 75% specificity when using a cutoff of 60 µg/dL, among individuals with restricted dietary Zn intake and 71% and 92% when applying a cutoff of 40 µg/dL. These analyses demonstrate a clear relationship between the presence of clinical signs and PZC, further validating the utility of PZC as a biomarker of Zn nutrition.