Is there a relationship between zinc and the peculiar comorbidities of Down syndrome?

Abstract

Zinc plays a central role in the immune system and has been found to be signifi cantly reduced in people with Down syndrome. The effectiveness of zinc supplementation in people with Down syndrome has been reported with discordant results. A comparison was made between a range of clinical and biochemical variables and zinc levels in 120 individuals with Down syndrome. Two groups of participants, one with normal zinc levels and the second with low zinc levels, were compared on the following measures: growth hormone secretion, IgA and IgG antigliadin antibodies, presence of coeliac disease, T3, T4, fT3, fT4, TSH, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, CD4/CD8 ratio, total immunoglobulins G and subclasses. No signifi cant difference was found between the two groups, except for IgG4 which was, unexpectedly, signifi cantly decreased in the group with normal zinc levels. In conclusion, an impairment of zinc blood level in individuals with Down syndrome does not necessarily impact on the organs and systems evaluated here.

Hair zinc level in Down syndrome

“…It has been found that zinc deficiency plays an important role in immunglobulin concentrations and thyroid function (Franceschi et al, 1988;Licastro et al, 1994;Licastro et al, 1992;Sustrova & Strbak, 1994). However no significant difference was also found between children with Down syndrome with normal zinc levels and low zinc levels regarding the measures of growth hormone secretion, Ig A and Ig G antigliadin antibodies, presence of celiac disease, thyroid function tests, CD4/CD8 ratio and total immunoglobulins in another study (Romano et al, 2002). Hair zinc level has also been evaluated in a range of different clinical situations.…”

Risk of Death for Children with Down Syndrome and Sepsis

“…25 The zinc deficiencies observed in many individuals with Down syndrome have been proposed as a mechanism of immunologic differences, 26 but observational studies and clinical trials examining zinc levels and immune status have failed to show a consistent effect. [27][28][29] …”

Immunological patterns in young children with Down syndrome: is there a temporal trend?

“…Some studies show that some micronutrients, in particular zinc, play an important role in the immunologic system (10). Murray et al demonstrated that low levels of zinc can decrease the number of T cells and alter blood cell functions (11).…”

“…Other authors say that zinc deficiency affects humoral immunity: recently Romano et al found some antibody deficiency disorders in DS children (10).…”