The association between plasma zinc concentrations and markers of glucose metabolism in adults in Cameroon

Modeling Zinc Absorption in the Adult Population of Colombia: Insights for Nutritional Evaluation and Intervention Strategies

Zinc is a vital trace element, yet its deficiency is common in various populations. This study addresses the gap in understanding zinc intake and its relationship with key nutritional parameters in a Colombian population. We analyzed data from 12,987 individuals, focusing on the daily intake of zinc, phytate, protein, and calcium, and used the phytate/zinc molar ratio as an input parameter in the Miller et al. (2013) model. This model was employed to estimate the total absorbed zinc (TAZ) and the fractional absorption of zinc (FAZ). Our findings highlight a general trend towards insufficient intake compared to the standards of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and Colombia, with a significant percentage of the population falling below the estimated average requirement (EAR) and recommended daily allowance (RDA) for zinc, underscoring the need for targeted nutritional strategies. Our study contributes to a broader understanding of zinc nutrition and public health implications in Colombia, providing a basis for future dietary guidelines and health interventions.

Impact of Nutritional Minerals Biomarkers on Cognitive Performance Among Bangladeshi Rural Adolescents-A Pilot Study

Background: Nutritional metals (NM) are essential for neurodevelopment and cognitive performance during growth. Nevertheless, epidemiological evidence regarding the associations between NM and brain function remains understudied, particularly among adolescents. Therefore, the objective of this pilot study was to examine the effects of NM biomarkers such as iron (Fe), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), and copper (Cu) on neurobehavioral functions among a group of rural Bangladeshi adolescents. Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 105 adolescents aged 13-17 from Araihazar, Bangladesh. Cognitive function was assessed using the computer-based Behavioral Assessment and Research System (BARS), focusing attention, memory, and executive function, and blood NM levels (Fe, Se, Zn, Mg, and Cu) were measured. Associations between individual minerals, NM composite scores, and cognition were analyzed using multiple linear regressions. Results: This study included 47 boys and 58 girls with an average age of 15 years. Fe levels were correlated with Continuous Performance Test (CPT) latency (r = -0.42, p < 0.05) and Se levels correlated with Match-to-Sample (MTS) correct count (r = 0.32, p < 0.01). Linear regressions showed that Se was associated with MTS correct count (b = 0.02, 95%CI: 0.01, -0.04), reflecting visual memory, and Fe was associated with CPT latency (b = -0.68, 95%CI: -1.11, -0.26), reflecting improved attention. The same BARS measures were also significantly associated with the 3-NM composite score. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that NM, particularly Fe, Se, and NM mixtures, could play a crucial role in brain development and neurocognitive function during adolescence. Further studies will help design national public health policies and strategies to address and mitigate brain health deficiencies among adolescents.

Novel strategy to the characterization and enhance the glycemic control properties of walnut-derived peptides via zinc chelation

This study aimed to utilize zinc coordination to promote the hypoglycemic and antioxidant properties of walnut-derived peptides, such as walnut protein hydrolysate (WPH) and Leu-Pro-Leu-Leu-Arg (LPLLR, LP5), of which LP5 was previously identified from WPH. The optimal conditions for the chelation were a peptide-to-zinc ratio of 6:1, pH of 9, duration of 50 min, and temperature of 50 °C. The WPH-Zn and LP5-Zn complexes increased the α-glucosidase inhibition, α-amylase inhibition, and antioxidant activity more than WPH and LP5 (p < 0.05). In particular, the antioxidant activity of WPH-Zn was superior to LP5-Zn. This is attributable to the WPH containing more aromatic amino acids, carboxylate groups and the imidazole groups, which implies its capacity to potentially coordinate with Zn2+ to form the WPH-Zn complex. Moreover, particle size, zeta potential, and scanning electron microscope indicated that the chelation of Zn2+ by peptides led to intramolecular and intermolecular folding and aggregation.

Associations of metals and metal mixtures with glucose homeostasis: A combined bibliometric and epidemiological study

This study employs a combination of bibliometric and epidemiological methodologies to investigate the relationship between metal exposure and glucose homeostasis. The bibliometric analysis quantitatively assessed this field, focusing on study design, predominant metals, analytical techniques, and citation trends. Furthermore, we analyzed cross-sectional data from Beijing, examining the associations between 14 blood metals and 6 glucose homeostasis markers using generalized linear models (GLM). Key metals were identified using LASSO-PIPs criteria, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) was applied to assess metal mixtures, introducing an "Overall Positive/Negative Effect" concept for deeper analysis. Our findings reveal an increasing research interest, particularly in selenium, zinc, cadmium, lead, and manganese. Urine (27.6%), serum (19.0%), and whole blood (19.0%) were the primary sample types, with cross-sectional studies (49.5%) as the dominant design. Epidemiologically, significant associations were found between 9 metals-cobalt, copper, lithium, manganese, nickel, lead, selenium, vanadium, zinc-and glucose homeostasis. Notably, positive-metal mixtures exhibited a significant overall positive effect on insulin levels, and notable interactions involving nickel were identified. These finding not only map the knowledge landscape of research in this domain but also introduces a novel perspective on the analysis strategies for metal mixtures.