Selenium and zinc in hair and toenails in relation to the physical and mental health status of older adults: The Freemasons Health study in New Zealand

The role of zinc on nutritional status, sarcopenia, and frailty in older adults: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Zinc (Zn) deficiency, malnutrition, sarcopenia, and frailty are prevalent among older adults and are prominent factors contributing to disability and mortality.

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review was conducted to aid understanding of the extent and types of research addressing the role of Zn in nutritional status, sarcopenia, and frailty, among older individuals.

METHOD

A systematic search was performed in August 2022 of 3 electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and ProQuest) using predefined search terms. The review was conducted referring to the Arksey and O'Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR.

RESULTS

The search retrieved 16 018 records, and a total of 49 studies were included in this review after the screening. Of those, 30 were based on dietary Zn intake, 18 on tissue Zn levels, and 1 on both. Most studies were based on cross-sectional data from community-dwelling older adults. Studies addressing the associations between Zn status and individual anthropometric and sarcopenia-related variables reported inconsistent results. However, most studies reported inverse associations between malnutrition, frailty, and Zn status.

CONCLUSION

There was more consistent evidence of the relationship of Zn status with malnutrition, sarcopenia, and frailty rather than with individual nutritional parameters. Validated screening and assessment tools and criteria and prospective studies are required to elucidate the relationship of Zn with sarcopenia and frailty in the older population.

Selenium in drinking water and cereal grains, and biomarkers of Se status in urine and fingernails of the Main Ethiopian Rift Valley population

BACKGROUND

Selenium (Se) plays an important role in human health, yet Se overexposure or deficiency can lead to deleterious health effects. This study aims to determine the concentration of Se in drinking water and staple cereal grain (maize, wheat, and teff) samples from the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER) Valley, and correspondingly, assesses Se biomarkers and their status as measured in the urine and fingernails of 230 individuals living in 25 MER communities.

METHOD

The concentration of Se in drinking water and cereal grain (maize, wheat, and teff) samples, and urine and fingernail samples were measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Demographic, anthropometric, and elemental concentrations were described by their quartiles and mean ± standard deviations. The 5th and 95th percentiles were used to describe the concentrations Se biomarkers ranges. The Se biomarker distributions in different study communities were further characterized according to Se levels found in drinking water, sex, and age using ANOVA, and multivariate regression. We conducted a correlation analysis (with Pearson correlation coefficient) and fitted a regression to evaluate the associations between these variables.

RESULTS

The mean concentration of Se in the drinking water samples was 0.66 (range: 0.015-2.64 µg/L; n = 25), and all samples were below the threshold value of 10 μg/L for Se in drinking water set by the World Health Organiation (WHO). In Ethiopia, most rural communities rely on locally produced cereal grains. We found mean Se concentrations (µg/kg) of 357 ± 190 (n = 14), 289 ± 123 (n = 14), and 145 ± 100 (n = 14) in wheat, teff, and maize, respectively. Furthermore, Se concentrations in drinking water showed no significant correlation with biomarker measures, indicating that the primary source of dietary Se is likely from local foods including staple grains. The mean±SD (5th-95th percentiles) of Se concentrations in fingernails and urine among study subjects were 1022 ± 320 (624-1551 µg/kg), and 38 ± 30 (1.9-100 µg/L), respectively.

CONCLUSION

A sizeable share of study participants (31%) fell below the lower limits of what is considered the currently accepted Se range of 20-90 µg/L in urine, though relatively few (only 4%) had similarly low fingernail levels. On the other hand, none of the samples reached Se toxicity levels, and the biomarker levels in this study are comparable to results from other studies that find adequate Se. Our results show that Se toxicity or deficiency is unlikely in the study population.

Dietary Selenium Intakes and Musculoskeletal Function in Very Old Adults: Analysis of the Newcastle 85+ Study

Background: Selenium is a trace element essential for health. Severe selenium deficiencies are associated with poor musculoskeletal (MSK) function. However, the effects of moderate deficiency on MSK function, especially in older adults, is unclear. Objectives: To determine the associations between selenium intake and MSK function in very old adults. Methods: Selenium intake at baseline and, hand-grip strength (HGS) and timed-up-and-go (TUG) at four phases over 5 years, were available in 791 participants in the Newcastle 85+ Study, a community-based, longitudinal cohort of ≥85 year old individuals. We investigated relationships between selenium intake and HGS and TUG in cross-sectional analyses at baseline using multivariate analyses and, prospectively using linear mixed models to explore HGS and TUG changes over 5 years in association with baseline selenium intake. Results: At baseline, 53% of participants had selenium intakes that were classified as low. These individuals had 2.80 kg lower HGS and were 2.30 s slower performing the TUG, cross-sectionally. In multivariate, baseline analyses, selenium intake had no significant impact on HGS or TUG. Selenium intake had no significant effect on MSK function, prospectively. Conclusion: Low selenium intake is common among very old adults and, in cross-sectional analyses, is associated with poorer MSK function.

Estrogenic botanical supplements, health-related quality of life, fatigue, and hormone-related symptoms in breast cancer survivors: a HEAL study report

BACKGROUND

It remains unclear whether estrogenic botanical supplement (EBS) use influences breast cancer survivors' health-related outcomes.

METHODS

We examined the associations of EBS use with health-related quality of life (HRQOL), with fatigue, and with 15 hormone-related symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats among 767 breast cancer survivors participating in the Health, Eating, Activity, and Lifestyle (HEAL) Study. HRQOL was measured by the Medical Outcomes Study short form-36 physical and mental component scale summary score. Fatigue was measured by the Revised-Piper Fatigue Scale score.

RESULTS

Neither overall EBS use nor the number of EBS types used was associated with HRQOL, fatigue, or hormone-related symptoms. However, comparisons of those using each specific type of EBS with non-EBS users revealed the following associations. Soy supplements users were more likely to have a better physical health summary score (odds ratio [OR] = 1.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02-2.70). Flaxseed oil users were more likely to have a better mental health summary score (OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.05-2.94). Ginseng users were more likely to report severe fatigue and several hormone-related symptoms (all ORs ≥ 1.7 and all 95% CIs exclude 1). Red clover users were less likely to report weight gain, night sweats, and difficulty concentrating (all OR approximately 0.4 and all 95% CIs exclude 1). Alfalfa users were less likely to experience sleep interruption (OR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.12-0.68). Dehydroepiandrosterone users were less likely to have hot flashes (OR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.14-0.82).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that several specific types of EBS might have important influences on a woman's various aspects of quality of life, but further verification is necessary.