This cross-sectional study assessed the zinc status of non-pregnant and pregnant women resident in the National Capital District (NCD), Papua New Guinea (PNG). Non-fasting morning blood samples were collected by venipuncture from consented women. Flame atomic absorption spectrometry was used to measure the serum zinc concentration in 27 non-pregnant and 100 pregnant women. C-reactive protein (CRP) in serum was measured by enzyme immunoassay and used to interpret the serum Zn data. For all the non-pregnant women, the median serum zinc concentration was 42.7 mug/dl with an interquartile range (IQR) of 27.6 to 91.2 mug/dl. Zinc deficiency was prevalent among 59% in this group of women. For those with normal CRP the median and IQR serum zinc concentrations were 48.9 mug/dl and 30.2 to 98.7 mug/dl, respectively. The median and IQR for all the pregnant women were 63.8 mug/dl and 40.9 to 93.2 mug/dl, respectively. Prevalence of zinc deficiency was 42% using the cut-off point of 56.0 mug/dl. Of the 100 pregnant women, 16 (16%) were in the first trimester, 51 (51%) in the second trimester and 33 (33%) in the third trimester. The median serum zinc concentrations of pregnant women in the first, second and third trimesters were 87.0 mug/dl, 61.6 mug/dl and 60.8 mug/dl, respectively. Using gestational period-specific cut-off points, zinc deficiency was prevalent among 31%, 39% and 36% of the pregnant women in the first, second and third trimesters, respectively. Our results clearly indicate suboptimal zinc status among non-pregnant and pregnant women in the NCD. According to the International Zinc Nutrition Consultative Group (IZiNCG) criteria, this should be considered as a public health problem among these groups of women in the NCD. To effectively address the issue, social mobilization, intensive education and awareness campaigns, with all relevant target groups and policy makers, are urgently required.
Zinc - deficiency, Pregnant Women

Malnutrition is a contributing cause of about half of the 10 million deaths annually worldwide, and contributes to a substantial proportion of the infectious disease morbidity among children in developing countries. Recent epidemiological and clinical evidence has shown that in most developing countries deficiencies of specific micronutrients are partly responsible for the severity of infectious disease morbidity and mortality in malnourished children. Efforts to improve micronutrient status have focused on iron, vitamin A and iodine. Supplementation with iron and vitamin A significantly reduces child mortality, while implementation of the universal salt iodization strategy reduces the incidence of iodine deficiency disorders. These strategies are considered to be among the most cost-effective health interventions in developing countries. A number of recent zinc supplementation studies in developing countries suggest that greater priority should also be given to the correction of mild to moderate zinc deficiency in children, pregnant women and lactating mothers. Some of these studies showed that zinc supplementation reduces the duration of malaria, and the severity of diarrhoea and respiratory infections (including pneumonia), and improves immunocompetence in susceptible children. The results of these studies indicate that zinc may be another specific micronutrient in which there is widespread deficiency in developing countries and that great benefits can be achieved by its supplementation.
Zinc ; Child ; Dietary Supplementation ; Health ; deficiency

Child ; Communicable Diseases ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Nutritional Status ; Zinc ; deficiency

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of Wenchuan Earthquake on the nutritional status, growth, and the prevalence nutritional anemia, vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and vitamin D deficiency among children under 60 months old living in the disaster areas.

METHODSA nutritional survey was conducted in April 2009. The survey recruited 466 under 60 months old children, including 162 children aged 0 months old and 304 children aged 24 - 59 months old. The children's growth status, prevalence of anemia, and the iron deficiency prevalence, vitamin A, D, B(12), folic acid status were measured. The study findings were compared to the results from 2002 Chinese Nutritional and Health Survey.

RESULTSThe exclusive breast milk feeding rate among infants under 6-months was 58.8% (30/51). Among the 0 - 23 months old children, only 10.7% (16/150) got breast feeding within one hour after delivery. Ninety-two per cent (149/162) 0 - 23 months old children never received any nutrient supplements. The average cereals and roots intakes of the 24 - 59 months old children living in the disaster area were (267.2 ± 154.3) g/d, higher than the result of rural children average (178.75 g/d) of 2002 National Nutrition and Health Survey (u = 9.995, P < 0.01). The average intakes of vegetables, aquatic products, meat and poultries were (63.6 ± 56.7), (2.6 ± 7.9), (19.4 ± 24.0) g/d, respectively, significantly lower than 2002 results 135.05, 8.82 and 32.23 g/d (u = 21.971, 13.728 and 9.321, P < 0.01). Fruits, dairy products and legumes intakes were (102.2 ± 110.8), (65.2 ± 123.8) and (20.5 ± 29.0) g/d, respectively, higher than 2002 results (32.81, 2.87 and 6.50 g/d; u = 10.919, 8.778 and 8.417, P < 0.01). The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and marginal deficiency was 15.4% (29/188) and 30.3% (57/188), respectively. The sum of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was 92.0% (183/199). The prevalence of anemia of the 0-months old children and 24 - 59 months old children was 47.5% (77/162) and 21.5% (60/279), respectively. The prevalence of iron and zinc deficiencies was 45.7% (86/188) and 65.5% (127/197). The prevalence of stunt was 13.6% (38/279) among the 24 - 59 months old children.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that the dietary structure of the children living in the disaster area was not ideal. Although, the intakes of energy and protein supporting foods could meet the requirements, but the dietary lacks of meats, poultries, dairy products, legume products, aquatic products and vegetables. The vitamin A, vitamin D deficiency, iron and zinc deficiencies are of a high prevalence in the disaster area.

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; epidemiology ; Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Disasters ; Earthquakes ; Humans ; Infant ; Nutrition Surveys ; Nutritional Status ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; Vitamin A Deficiency ; epidemiology ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; epidemiology ; Zinc ; deficiency

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of Wenchuan Earthquake on the nutritional status and the prevalence of nutritional anemia, vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and vitamin D deficiency among reproductive women (15 - 44 years old) in the disaster areas one year after the Earthquake.

METHODSA nutritional survey was conducted in 3 counties in April 2009, one year after the Earthquake. Two towns from each county were selected as study sites, and this survey recruited 58 pregnant, 66 lactating and 242 non-pregnant-non-lactating women. A comparison was made to the results of 2002 Chinese Nutrition and Health Survey.

RESULTSThe cereals and roots intakes of the pregnant, lactating and non-pregnant-non-lactating women living in the disaster area were (426.8 ± 271.8), (568.0 ± 306.1), and (483.0 ± 277.7) g/d respectively, which were almost the same results (486.8, 509.3 and 495.1 g/d, respectively) from 2002 National Nutrition and Health Survey. The fat and oil intakes were (41.9 ± 51.6), (55.5 ± 69.2), and (66.9 ± 125.7) g/d, respectively, which were also the same ad the results (45.2, 43.9 and 41.4 g/d, respectively) from 2002 National Nutrition and Health Survey. The intakes of meats and poultries were only (58.1 ± 67.7), (76.3 ± 218.7), and (23.9 ± 29.6) g/d respectively, which were much lower than the recommended food intakes from the Branch of Maternal and Child Nutrition of Chinese Nutrition Society. The vitamin A deficiency and marginal deficiency prevalence were 6.9% (24/347) and 18.2% (63/347), respectively. The deficiency and insufficiency of vitamin D was sum to 93.9% (323/344). The prevalence of anemia was 32.6% (112/344). 51.0% (171/335) reproductive women were iron deficient, and 61.6% (210/347) women were suffering zinc deficiency.

CONCLUSIONThe study findings indicated that the dietary structure was seriously effected by the Earthquake. The sources from animal and legume products were relatively low. The micronutrients nutritional status was poor. The vitamin A, vitamin D, and iron, zinc deficiencies were highly prevalent in the disaster area.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Disasters ; Earthquakes ; Eating ; Female ; Humans ; Nutrition Surveys ; Nutritional Status ; Pregnancy ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vitamin A Deficiency ; epidemiology ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; epidemiology ; Young Adult ; Zinc ; deficiency

We present here a case of acrodermatitis enteropathica-like eruption associated with essential free fatty acid and protein deficiencies as well as borderline zinc deficiency that occurred after Whipple's operation in a 31-yr-old woman. Her eruptions were improved not by zinc supplements alone, but her condition was improved by total parenteral nutrition including amino acids, albumin, lipid and zinc. Although we could not exactly decide which of the nutrients contributed the most to her manifestations, we inferred that all three elements in concert caused her dermatoses. This case shows that even though the patient's skin manifestations and laboratory results are suggestive of acrodermatitis enteropathica, the physicians should keep in mind the possibility that this disease can be associated with other nutritional deficiencies such as free fatty acid or protein deficiency.
Acrodermatitis/*diagnosis/*etiology ; Adult ; Fatty Acids, Essential/deficiency ; Female ; Humans ; Malnutrition/*diagnosis/*etiology ; Pancreatectomy/*adverse effects ; Protein-Losing Enteropathies/diagnosis/etiology ; Skin Diseases/*diagnosis/*etiology ; Zinc/deficiency

With the step-up of the aging process, the increase of old population and the advance of living standard, China has already entered into the aged society. Problems on the health and life quality of the aging male have been receiving more and more attention from scientific researchers. Partial androgen deficiency in the aging male (PADAM) is a kind of syndrome which affects the aging male s health. At present, testosterone supplementation therapy is mostly used to improve the symptoms of PADAM, but it may bring some adverse effects, such as erythrocytosis and hyperplasia and carcinoma of the prostate. Some studies have shown that quite a few nutrients, especially vitamin A, vitamin E, zinc and selenium are favorably related to androgen deficiency and sperm production. This article discussed the effects of micronutrients on PADAM.
Aged ; Androgens ; deficiency ; Deficiency Diseases ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Micronutrients ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Selenium ; therapeutic use ; Vitamin A ; therapeutic use ; Vitamin E ; therapeutic use ; Zinc ; therapeutic use

Hemoglobin and zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) tests are commonly used to screen for iron deficiency, but little research has been done to systematically evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of these two tests. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of zinc protoporphyrin/heme (ZPP/H) ratio as a point-of-service screening test for iron deficiency among preschool-aged children by comparing the sensitivity and specificity of hemoglobin, ZPP/H ratio, and serum ferritin (SF). Also completed were assessments for the prevalence of anemia, iron deficiency (ID), and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) with indicators of ferritin models. This study was carried out with 95 children ages 3 to 6 y. Anthropometric measurements were assessed, and blood samples were analyzed for hemoglobin, SF, transferrin saturation (TS), and ZPP. Anemia was common and the prevalences of anemia, ID, and IDA were 14.7%, 12.6%, and 5.2%, respectively. The ZPP/H ratio was strongly and significantly correlated with hemoglobin. And ZPP/H ratio was a more sensitive test for ID than hemoglobin or SF measurement, correctly identifying more than twice as many iron-deficient children (sensitivity of 91.7%, compared to 41.7% for hemoglobin and SF). However, ZPP/H ratio had lower specificity (60.2%, compared to 89.1% for hemoglobin or 96.4% for SF) and resulted in the false identification of more subjects who actually were not iron deficient than did hemoglobin or SF. Low hemoglobin concentration is a late-stage indicator of ID, but ZPP/H ratio can detect ID at early stages and can be performed easily at a relatively low cost. Therefore, ZPP/H ratio can serve as a potential screening test for pre-anemic iron deficiency in community pediatric practices.
Anemia ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Ferritins ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Iron ; Mass Screening ; Prevalence ; Protoporphyrins ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Transferrin ; Zinc

OBJECTIVETo detect pathogenic mutation of the SLC39A4 gene in a male patient with acrodermatitis enteropathica (AE).

METHODSPeripheral venous blood sample and clinical data from the patient and his parents were collected. One hundred unrelated healthy individuals were recruited as controls. All coding exons and flanking exon-intron sequences of the SLC39A4 gene were analyzed by PCR and direct sequencing.

RESULTSThe results revealed that the patient and his mother have both carried a novel frame-shift mutation c.1110InsG (p.Gly370GlyfsX47 to TGA) in exon 6. A novel nonsense mutation c.958C to T (p.Q320X) in exon 5 was also detected in the patient and his father and grandmother. This novel mutation was not detected in the unaffected family members and 100 unrelated healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONThe novel frame-shift mutation c.1110InsG (p.Gly370GlyfsX47 to TGA) derived from the mother and nonsense mutation c.958C to T (p.Q320X) of the SLC39A4 gene derived from the father may underlie the disease in the patient.

Acrodermatitis ; genetics ; Adolescent ; Base Sequence ; Cation Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Exons ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Zinc ; deficiency

The disease course of children with persistent or chronic diarrhea lasts from two weeks to two months or over. Diarrhea is a clinical syndrome caused by a group of multiple etiologies. This paper reviews common causes of persistent or chronic diarrhea in children, including intestinal infections, nonspecific inflammatory bowel diseases, food allergy, lactose intolerance, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, neural regulation abnormality, immunodeficiency disease, malnutrition, Celiac disease and zinc deficiency.
Child ; Chronic Disease ; Diarrhea ; etiology ; Humans ; Infection ; complications ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; complications ; Lactose Intolerance ; complications ; Malnutrition ; complications ; Zinc ; deficiency