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Zinc intake and status in middle-aged and older European subjects: the ZENITH study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 59, pages S37–S41 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

Inadequate intakes of micronutrients in elderly negatively affect the nutritional status. Zinc is an essential micronutrient in the elderly, especially in relation to its impact on immune function, bone mass, cognitive function and oxidative stress. However, data are lacking on zinc intake and status during normal ageing. In this study, we evaluate the intake and status of zinc in late middle-aged and older free-living subjects.

Design:

Dietary zinc intake and zinc status in 188 middle-aged subjects from Clermont-Ferrand (Fr) and Coleraine (UK), and in 199 older subjects from Grenoble (Fr) and Roma (It) were assessed at the entry in the ZENITH study.

Results:

In relation to the zinc RDA for people older than 55 y, zinc intakes in most of the middle-aged and older subjects (more than 96%) in the present study were adequate. Older people had significantly lower (P<0.01) energy intakes as compared to middle-aged. Zinc intake expressed per MJ was also significantly (P<0.01) higher in older people compared to middle-aged. Erythrocyte and urinary zinc concentrations were significantly (P<0.001) higher in middle-aged subjects compared to older ones. The prevalence of biological Zn deficiency in free-living ageing European people was low (<5%).

Conclusion:

The results of the present study showed a relatively low prevalence of zinc deficiencies in healthy free-living late middle-age and older subjects. These results should be useful for health professionals to have reference data on zinc intake and status for a healthy ageing.

Sponsorship:

The ZENITH study is supported by the European Commission ‘Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources’ Fifth Framework Programme, Contract No: QLK1-CT-2001-00168.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank Dr J Arnaud (Grenoble Hospital CHRG, France) and her technicians for measurement of all the Zn status parameters.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Nutrition Vieillissement et Maladies Cardiovasculaires, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Joseph Fourier, Domaine de la Merci, La Tronche, France

    M Andriollo-Sanchez, I Hininger-Favier & A-M Roussel

  2. Centre de recherche en Nutrition Humaine d'Auvergne (CRNH), Unité Maladies Métaboliques et Micronutriments, INRA, Centre de Recherche de Clermont-Ferrand/Theix, St Genès-Champanelle, France

    N Meunier, M Brandolini-Bunlon & C Coudray

  3. National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research, Human Nutrition Unit (INRAN), Rome, Italy

    E Toti, M Zaccaria & A Polito

  4. Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), Biomedical Science, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

    J M O'Connor

  5. Centre Hospitalier Valence, Valence cedex, France

    M Ferry

Authors
  1. M Andriollo-Sanchez
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  2. I Hininger-Favier
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  3. N Meunier
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  4. E Toti
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  5. M Zaccaria
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  6. M Brandolini-Bunlon
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  7. A Polito
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  8. J M O'Connor
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  9. M Ferry
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  10. C Coudray
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  11. A-M Roussel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A-M Roussel.

Additional information

Guarantor: A-M Roussel.

Contributors: MAS contributed to the analysis and writing of the study. IHF, NM, ET, MZ, MB, AP, JMO, MF and A-MR contributed to design, execution, analysis and writing of the study. CC is the ZENITH project coordinator. All authors read and contributed to finalisation of the manuscript.

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Andriollo-Sanchez, M., Hininger-Favier, I., Meunier, N. et al. Zinc intake and status in middle-aged and older European subjects: the ZENITH study. Eur J Clin Nutr 59 (Suppl 2), S37–S41 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602296

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