Zinc: a multipurpose trace element

Stefanidou, Maria; Maravelias, C; Dona, Artemis; Spiliopoulou, Chara

doi:10.1007/s00204-005-0009-5

Cited by 371 publications

(278 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…High levels of selenium are found in brazil nuts, kidney, seafood and cereals, although this is soil dependent and it has been reported that European intake of selenium is falling [31]. Zinc acts as a co-factor for enzymes promoting DNA transcription and protein synthesis [32], has a role in expression of steroid hormone receptors [33] and has anti-apoptotic [34] and anti-oxidant properties [35]. Studies have demonstrated that a zinc deficiency can lead to subfertility and abnormal reproductive outcomes [36], and to pregnancy complications [37,38].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endocrine disruptor & nutritional effects of heavy metals in ovarian hyperstimulation

Dickerson¹,

Sathyapalan

Knight

et al. 2011

J Assist Reprod Genet

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Purpose There is increasing concern that environmental chemicals have a direct effect on fertility. Heavy metals such as mercury have been shown to affect various organ systems in humans including nervous system and skin, however they could also act as endocrine disrupting chemicals adversely affecting fertility. Metals such as zinc and selenium are essential micronutrients with diverse functions that may be important for reproductive outcomes. We measured mercury, zinc and selenium levels in the hair, a reliable reflection of long term environmental exposure and dietary status, to correlate with the outcome of ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment. Methods We analysed the hair of 30 subfertile women for mercury, zinc and selenium using inductively coupled mass spectrometry. Each woman underwent one cycle of IVF treatment. Correlation between the levels of these trace metals and treatment outcomes was investigated.Results Thirty women were recruited with mean (±SD) age of 32.7(4.4) years and BMI of 25.4(5.0)kg/m 2 . Hair mercury concentration showed a negative correlation with oocyte yield (p<0.05,βcoefficient 0.38) and follicle number (p=0.03,β coefficient0.19) after ovarian stimulation. Zinc and selenium levels in hair correlated positively with oocyte yield after ovarian stimulation (p<0.05,β coefficient0.15) and (p=0.03,β coefficient0.21) respectively. Selenium levels in hair correlated significantly with follicle number following stimulation (p=0.04, βcoefficient0.22). There was no correlation between mercury, zinc and selenium in hair and their corresponding serum levels. Conclusion These data suggest that mercury had a deleterious effect whilst there was a positive effect for zinc and selenium in the ovarian response to gonadotrophin therapy for IVF. Hair analysis offers a novel method of investigating the impact of long-term exposure to endocrine disruptors and nutritional status on reproductive outcomes. Keywords IVF . Heavy metals . Endocrine disruptorsSubfertility affects approximately 1 in 6 couples in the developed world [1], a prevalence that is likely to increase as more women delay childbirth to a later age [2]; approximately 28% of couples investigated for subfertility have a diagnosis of 'unexplained subfertility' [3]. Current treatment largely consists of assisted reproductive techniques (ART) such as IVF or IVF-ICSI, often regardless of the underlying cause. The average success rate of 25-30% for ART in Europe remains unchanged over recent years [4], prompting the search for additional factors which may influence fertility treatments and optimise success, and the identification of adverse factors such as endocrine disrupting chemicals.Capsule Mercury concentration in hair had a deleterious effect where as zinc and selenium had a beneficial effect in ovarian response to gonadotrophin therapy for IVF.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endocrine disruptor & nutritional effects of heavy metals in ovarian hyperstimulation

Dickerson¹,

Sathyapalan

Knight

et al. 2011

J Assist Reprod Genet

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“…Zinc is an important trace element in organisms and it is essential as a structural or catalytic constituent of many proteins and enzymes (Stefanidou et al 2006). Zinc is also an important element in preventing free radical formation and thus in protecting bodies from oxidative damage and in maintaining the immune functions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Zinc is a trace nutrient indispensable for organisms (Stefanidou et al 2006). Zinc homeostasis is mostly regulated by zinc transporters (Eide 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Restraint stress up-regulates expression of zinc transporter Zip14 mRNA in mouse liver

et al. 2008

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The zinc concentration in the liver was significantly higher in mice at 12 h after the onset of restraint stress than that without stress. The IL-6 protein level in the serum was transiently elevated at 3 h after the onset of restraint stress, and the IL-6-responsive zinc transporter Zip14 mRNA in the liver was expressed markedly at 6 h. These results suggest that Zip14 plays a major role in the mechanism responsible for accumulation of zinc in the liver under restraint stress.

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“…Many studies have been undertaken to investigate the effects of zinc supplementation on various diseases or physiological conditions in elderly people or in subjects having dietary or biochemical zinc deficiency (Stefanidou et al, 2006). Most of these studies have been performed among hospitalized or institutionalized elderly or focussed mainly on the relationship between zinc status and immune function (Pepersack et al, 2001;Mitchell et al, 2003;Chandra, 2004), while data in elderly free living people are scarce.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of zinc supplementation on vitamin status of middle-aged and older European adults: the ZENITH study

et al. 2007

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Objective: To assess the effects of zinc supplementation on vitamin status in middle-aged and older volunteers. Subjects/Methods: Three hundred and eighty-seven healthy middle-aged (55-70 years) and older (70-85 years) men and women, randomly allocated to three groups to receive 15 or 30 mg Zn/day or placebo for 6 months. Dietary intake was assessed by means of a validated 4-day recall record. Fasting blood samples were simultaneously analysed for levels of plasma retinol and a-tocopherol by high-performance liquid chromatography. Erythrocyte folates were measured by a competitive immunoassay with direct chemiluminescence detection on an automatized immunoanalyser. Biochemical measurements were performed at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of zinc supplementation. Results: Plasma vitamin A levels were significantly increased proportionally with zinc dose and period of treatment, particularly at 6 months (for 15 mg Zn/day, Po0.05; for 30 mg Zn/day, Po0.0001); no significant changes were observed in the placebo group. There was no effect of zinc supplementation on vitamin E/cholesterol ratio and erythrocyte folates. Conclusions: Our results show that a long-term zinc supplementation increases plasma vitamin A levels in middle-aged and older people of similar characteristics to those involved in this study. Moreover, supplementation influences serum zinc levels but does not affect erythrocyte zinc concentration and both plasma vitamin E and erythrocyte folate status.

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Zinc: a multipurpose trace element

Cited by 371 publications

References 82 publications

Endocrine disruptor & nutritional effects of heavy metals in ovarian hyperstimulation

Endocrine disruptor & nutritional effects of heavy metals in ovarian hyperstimulation

Restraint stress up-regulates expression of zinc transporter Zip14 mRNA in mouse liver

Effect of zinc supplementation on vitamin status of middle-aged and older European adults: the ZENITH study

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