The use of stable isotope techniques to assess zinc metabolism

• Published in: The Journal of nutritional biochemistry Vol. 6; no. 6; pp. 292 - 301
• Main Authors: Krebs, Nancy F., Miller, Leland V., Naake, Vernon L., Lei, Sian, Westcott, Jamie E., Fennessey, Paul V., Michael Hambidge, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.06.1995; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; stable isotopes; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; zinc; stable isotopes; zinc; Human; Excretion; Isotope labelling; Nutrition; Gut; Homeostasis; Infant; Review; Metabolism; Inorganic element; Zinc; Stable isotope; Absorption; Adult; Trace element (nutrient); Measurement method
• ISSN: 0955-2863; 1873-4847
• DOI: 10.1016/0955-2863(95)00043-Y

The refinement of techniques that can accurately measure small changes in zinc stable isotope ratios in biological samples provides new opportunities for advancing our understanding of human zinc metabolism. The feasibility of utilizing more than one zinc stable isotope label simultaneously is invaluable for more complex kinetic studies. These techniques are especially valuable for investigations of the regulation of Zn homeostasis in infants and in women during the reproductive cycle in whom problems with zinc nutriture may be relatively frequent and of concern for preand postnatal growth and development. Initially, these techniques have been applied to studying the role of the intestine in the maintenance of zinc homeostasis and have served to emphasize the importance of the modulation of fecal excretion of endogenous zinc. Application of stable isotope techniques to explore zinc metabolism beyond the intestinal tract is still limited but has considerable potential for advancing our understanding of zinc metabolism in health and disease.