Studies to Determine the Usefulness of the Zinc Clearance Test to Diagnose Marginal Zinc Deficiency and the Effects of Oral Zinc Supplementation for Short Children

Abstract

The body zinc clearance test was much more useful than serum zinc concentrations in diagnosing marginal zinc deficiency. Oral zinc supplementation improved the height velocity in short males, but not in short females.

Japan’s Practical Guidelines for Zinc Deficiency with a Particular Focus on Taste Disorders, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and Liver Cirrhosis

“…In Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, a serum zinc level <70 µg/dL is listed as a criterion for zinc deficiency [19]. However, the zinc clearance test is reportedly more accurate for diagnosing the disorder than serum zinc levels, especially in cases of marginal zinc deficiency [20][21][22][23]. Nakamura et al [22] reported that 10 patients with short stature who were diagnosed with zinc deficiency using this test showed improved stature upon zinc treatment.…”

“…In these patients, the mean serum zinc level prior to zinc administration was 78 ± 6 µg/dL (mean ± SD), suggesting that those with serum zinc ≥70 µg/dL are also susceptible to zinc deficiency. In another study, Kaji et al reported a mean serum zinc level of 75.0 ± 12.7 µg/dL in patients with short stature who were diagnosed with zinc deficiency with the zinc clearance test [23]. Tomita et al proposed 80 µg/dL as a cutoff level for diagnosing zinc deficiency [24].…”

The Pig as an Experimental Model for Elucidating the Mechanisms Governing Dietary Influence on Mineral Absorption

“…Along with calcium, zinc is another whose deficiency is emerging as a widespread problem (62)(63). Owing to the important consequences of zinc deficiency on growth, immunity, and everyday metabolic and physiological processes, a lot of research is being directed toward alleviating this problem, and the porcine model is increasingly being utilized for this research.…”

Zinc and iron status and growth in healthy infants

“…Zinc supplementation improves growth and circulating growth factors in growth-retarded children; this effect was displayed in several studies reviewed recently (Nishi, 1996;Ninh et al, 1996;Brown et al, 1998;Kaji et al, 1998), and is used to con®rm a mild degree of zinc de®ciency.…”