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Zinc Nutritional Status in Adolescents with Down Syndrome

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Abstract

Studies have evidenced that zinc metabolism is altered in presence of Down syndrome, and zinc seems to have a relationship with the metabolic alterations usually present in this syndrome. In this work, the Zn-related nutritional status of adolescents with Down syndrome was evaluated by means of biochemical parameters and diet. A case–control study was performed in a group of adolescents with Down syndrome (n = 30) and a control group (n = 32), of both sexes, aged 10 to 19 years. Diet evaluation was accomplished by using a 3-day dietary record, and the analysis was performed by the NutWin program, version 1.5. Antropometric measurements were performed for evaluation of body composition. The Zn-related nutritional status of the groups was evaluated by means of zinc concentration determinations in plasma and erythrocytes, and 24-h urinary zinc excretion, by using the method of atomic absorption spectroscopy. The diet of both groups presented adequate concentrations of lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and zinc. The mean values found for zinc concentration in erythrocytes were 49.2 ± 8.5 μg Zn/g Hb for the Down syndrome group and 35.9 ± 6.1 μg Zn/g Hb for the control group (p = 0.001). The average values found for zinc concentration in plasma were 67.6 ± 25.6 μg/dL for the Down syndrome group and 68.9 ± 22.3 μg/dL for the control group. The mean values found for zinc concentration in urine were 244.3 ± 194.9 μg Zn/24 h for the Down syndrome group and 200.3 ± 236.4 μg Zn/24 h for the control group. Assessment of body composition revealed overweight (26.7%) and obesity (6.6%) in the Down syndrome group. In this study, patients with Down syndrome presented altered zinc levels for some cellular compartments, and the average zinc concentrations were low in plasma and urine and elevated in erythrocytes.

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Author notes

  1. Dilina do Nascimento Marreiro

    Present address: , Av. Marechal Castelo Branco, 800—Apto 1401, Ilhotas, Teresina, Piauí, CEP 64001-810, Brazil

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil

    Raynério Costa Marques & Artemizia Francisca de Sousa

  2. Laboratory of Immunogenetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil

    Semiramis Jamil Hadad do Monte

  3. Department of Nutrition, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil

    Nadir do Nascimento Nogueira & Dilina do Nascimento Marreiro

  4. MedImagem Laboratory, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil

    Francisco Erasmo Oliveira

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  1. Raynério Costa Marques
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  2. Artemizia Francisca de Sousa
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  3. Semiramis Jamil Hadad do Monte
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  6. Dilina do Nascimento Marreiro
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Correspondence to Dilina do Nascimento Marreiro.

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Marques, R.C., de Sousa, A.F., do Monte, S.J.H. et al. Zinc Nutritional Status in Adolescents with Down Syndrome. Biol Trace Elem Res 120, 11–18 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-007-0061-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-007-0061-5

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