Zinc absorption in Brazilian subjects fed a healthy meal

• Published in: Journal of human nutrition and dietetics Vol. 27; no. s2; pp. 313 - 320
• Main Authors: Ribeiro, M. A, Cominetti, C, Kakazu, M. H, Sarkis, J. E. S, Dainty, J, Fox, T. E, Cozzolino, S. M. F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2014
• Subjects: absorption; administration & dosage; Administration, Intravenous; Adult; adverse effects; beans; bioavailability; Biological Availability; blood; Brazil; deficiency; Developing Countries; Diet; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; drug effects; experimental diets; Food, Organic; French fries; fruit juices; Health Food; Humans; Intestinal Absorption; Intestinal Absorption - drug effects; isotope labelling; lettuce; lunch; Male; mass spectrometry; Meals; Nutrition research; Nutritional Status; onions; pharmacokinetics; phytic acid; Phytic Acid - administration & dosage; Phytic Acid - adverse effects; pineapples; rice; single meal; stable isotopes; steaks; tomatoes; World Health Organization; Young Adult; Zinc; Zinc - blood; Zinc - deficiency; Zinc - pharmacokinetics; Brazil; Brazil; isotope labelling; bioavailability; zinc; single meal
• ISSN: 0952-3871; 1365-277X; 1365-277X
• DOI: 10.1111/jhn.12119

BACKGROUND: The high amounts of phytic acid present in diets from developing countries are considered as important inhibitors of zinc (Zn) absorption. The present study aimed to assess the fractional absorption of Zn from a meal containing common Brazilian foods using the stable isotope technique. METHODS: Twelve men, aged 19–42 years, were fed a healthy experimental diet comprising lettuce, tomato, French fries, steak with onions, rice, beans, papaya, orange, pineapple, and passion fruit juice. Each subject received one intravenous dose of enriched ⁷⁰Zn, and the lunch was extrinsically labelled with enriched ⁶⁷Zn. Urinary ⁶⁷Zn and ⁷⁰Zn enrichments were assessed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The labelled meal phytate : Zn molar ratio was very divergent with respect to chemically determined and calculated data. Subjects presented a normal Zn nutritional status before and after the study. The mean Zn absorption from the labelled meal was 30% (range 11–47%). CONCLUSIONS: According to the World Health Organization parameters, the results denote a moderate/high Zn bioavailability in the evaluated meal, with a variability in the absorption percentage that is similar to other studies. The data show that a typical Brazilian meal, with an adequate energy amount and a balanced macronutrient distribution, presents a Zn bioavailability in accordance with the worldwide recommended standard.