Zinc status and its association with the health of adolescents: a review of studies in India

Abstract

BackgroundZinc is important in adolescence because of its role in growth and sexual maturation. Adolescents from developing countries such as India may be at high risk of zinc deficiency because of unwholesome food habits and poor bioavailability of zinc from plant-based diets.Objective(1) to study zinc status and its association with profile of other micronutrients, (2) to construct a simple tool in the form of Adolescent Micronutrient Quality Index (AMQI) to assess quality of diets of the girls and (3) to examine the effect of zinc supplement on health of adolescent girls.MethodsGirls (10–16 years) from two secondary schools of Pune, Maharashtra state, in Western India were enrolled in a cross-sectional study (n = 630). Data were collected on dietary intake, cognitive performance, taste acuity, haemoglobin, erythrocyte zinc and plasma levels of zinc, vitamin C, β-carotene and retinol. AMQI was developed using age–sex-specific Indian dietary guidelines and healthy foods and habits described in the recent US dietary guidelines. Zinc-rich recipes were developed considering habitual diets of the girls and vegetarian sources of zinc. An intervention trial (n = 180) was conducted to assess the effect of zinc-rich dietary supplements and ayurvedic zinc (Jasad) supplementation.ResultsPrevalence of micronutrient deficiencies was high in these girls. Poor cognitive performance was seen in half of the girls, and salt taste perception was affected in 45%. AMQI was correlated with nutrient intakes and blood micronutrient levels (p < 0.01), indicating the potential of AMQI to measure micronutrient quality of diets of adolescent girls. Results of the intervention trial indicated that supplementation of zinc-rich recipes vis-a-vis ayurvedic Jasad zinc has the potential to improve plasma zinc status, cognitive performance and taste acuity in adolescent girls.ConclusionsReview of the studies on Indian adolescent girls demonstrates the necessity of adopting zinc and micronutrient-rich diets for positive health building in adolescents.

A Comparative Study on Micronutrients and Antinutrients of Leaf Extracts of Pterocarpus soyauxii and Pterocarpus santalinoides

“…It also helps in normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence. It is essential for growth and sexual development in man [27] and important in cell proliferation and protein synthesis [28]. The result of the zinc content of the studied vegetables, P. soyauxii (3.44 ± 0.02 mg/100 g) and P. santalinoides (3.61 ± 0.05 mg/100 g) is compared well with 3.88 mg/100 g reported for Amaranthus hybridus L. [21].…”

Nutritional knowledge and habits of adolescents aged 9 to 13 years in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates: a crosssectional study

“…Health problems arising from an excessive intake of calorie-dense foods which lead to obesity and/or nutritional deficiencies as a result of limited intake or poor choice of foods are common in adolescence (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11). In the adolescent population, rates of obesity have more than quadrupled over the past 30 years (6)(7)(8).…”

“…It has also been suggested that obesity in adolescence may adversely affect academic performance (12)(13)(14)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21). It is important to remember that obesity and nutritional deficiencies are not mutually exclusive, there may be a double burden for many of both obesity and nutrient deficiencies (such as iron deficiency and zinc deficiency) (11,22).…”

The Biomedical Role of Zinc in the Functioning of the Human Organism

“…Significant zinc deficiency causes also growth inhibition, liver and spleen enlargement (hepatosplenomegaly) and anorexia [19], as well as taste and appetite disorders [32]. The research shows that zinc deficiency causes inhibition of wound healing, reduction of thrombolytic aggregation, reduction of erythrocyte osmocity and greater bleeding tendency [1,33].…”