Zinc deficiency in Mexican American children: Influence of zinc and other micronutrients on T cells, cytokines, and antiinflammatory plasma proteins

Harold H. Sandstead, Ananda S. Prasad, James G. Penland, Frances W.J. Beck, Joseph Kaplan, Norman G. Egger, Nancy W. Alcock, Richard M. Carroll, V. M.S. Ramanujam, Hari H. Dayal, Carmen D. Rocco, Ruth Ann Plotkin, Antonio N. Zavaleta

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

75 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey suggested some Mexican American children are at risk of zinc deficiency. Objective: We measured the effects of zinc and micronutrients or of micronutrients alone on indexes of cell-mediated immunity and antiinflammatory plasma proteins. Design: Subjects (n = 54) aged 6-7 y were randomly assigned and treated in double-blind fashion in equal numbers with 20 mg Zn (as sulfate) and micronutrients or with micronutrients alone 5 d/wk for 10 wk. Results: Before treatment the mean ± SD plasma zinc was 14.9 ± 1.7 μmol/dL and the range was within the reference; hair zinc was 1.78 ± 0.52 μmol/g and 41.6% were ≤ 1.68 μmol/g; serum ferritin was 25.7 ± 18.6 μg/L and 50.0% were ≤20 μg/L. The zinc and micronutrients treatment increased the lymphocyte ratios of CD4+ to CD8+ and of CD4+CD45RA+ to CD4+CD45RO+, increased the ex vivo generation of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), decreased the generation of interleukin-10 (IL-10), and increased plasma interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (sIL-lra) and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNF-R1). Micronutrients alone increased the ratio of CD4+ to CD8+ but not of CD4+CD45RA+ to CD4+CD45RO+, increased IFN-γ but had no effect on IL-2 or IL-10, and increased sIL-lra but not sTNF-R1. Efficacy of zinc and micronutrients was greater than micronutrients alone for all indexes except the ratio of CD4+ to CD8+, which was affected similarly. Conclusions: Before treatment, concentrations of hair zinc in 41.6% of subjects and serum ferritin in 50% were consistent with the presence of zinc deficiency. The greater efficacy of the zinc and micronutrients treatment compared with micronutrients alone supports this interpretation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1067-1073
Number of pages7
JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Volume88
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2008

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Nutrition and Dietetics

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