Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-42gr6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T07:42:10.920Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Trace mineral status in Caucasian and South Asian postmenopausal women living in the UK

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2012

S. A. Dillon ,
S. R. Mitra ,
P. C. Foster ,
B. Ellahi ,
J. F. McCann  and
N. M. Lowe
S. A. Dillon
Affiliation:
International Institute of Nutritional Sciences and Applied Food Safety Studies, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE
S. R. Mitra
Affiliation:
International Institute of Nutritional Sciences and Applied Food Safety Studies, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE
P. C. Foster
Affiliation:
International Institute of Nutritional Sciences and Applied Food Safety Studies, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE
B. Ellahi
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Chester, Chester CH1 4BJ, UK
J. F. McCann
Affiliation:
Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Royal Preston Hospital, Preston, PR2 9HT, UK
N. M. Lowe
Affiliation:
International Institute of Nutritional Sciences and Applied Food Safety Studies, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

An abstract is not available for this content. As you have access to this content, full HTML content is provided on this page. A PDF of this content is also available in through the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Type
Abstract
Information
Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , Volume 71 , Issue OCE2: Summer Meeting hosted by the Irish Section, 16–19 July 2012, Translational nutrition: integrating research, practice and policy , 2012 , E189
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2012

Zinc, Selenium and Copper are essential trace minerals that are important for human health and data suggests there is a high prevalence of inadequate intake in the UK with the prevalence of inadequate intake being higher in females than in males( Reference Vinas, Barba and Ngo 1 ). Previous data from this laboratory has also indicated that South Asian (SA) females may be more at risk of micronutrient deficiency than Caucasian (C) females( Reference Lowe, Mitra and Foster 2 ). The aim of this study was to investigate this further and conduct a comparative investigation of Zn, Se and Cu status in postmenopausal SA and C females. Apparently healthy postmenopausal C and SA females of 50–65 years of age and at least one year post menopause were identified for this study. Dietary information was collected using an interviewer administered food frequency questionnaire (FFQ)( Reference Vyas, Greenhalgh and Cade 3 ) which was developed to study nutrient intakes of an adult Pakistani, European and African-Caribbean community in inner city Britain. Fasting blood samples were collected and plasma was stored at −70°C until analysis. The Se, Cu, and Zn content of plasma samples was measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS).

Mean values were significantly different from Caucasian: *p<0.05.

Results indicate that dietary intake of Zn, Se, and Cu was significantly lower in the SA compared with the C females (p<0.05). Significant differences between the two populations were also identified for both Se and Cu when mineral intake was normalised to energy intake (p<0.05). When dietary intake levels were compared to the current UK dietary reference values the SA population were found to have an intake of Se that was significantly lower than the DRV (60 μg/d; p<0.05). Differences between the two populations were also identified for plasma Se and Cu; plasma Se was significantly lower and plasma Cu was significantly higher in the SA compared to the C females (p<0.05). In contrast to the dietary intake data where Zn intake was higher than the DRV plasma Zn fell below the reference range of 12–25 μMol/L in both the SA and C females. In conclusion trace mineral analysis of dietary intake and plasma levels revealed differences for Se, Cu and Zn in SA and C females. Only Se intake in the SA females was a significantly below the DRV and plasma Zn levels indicate a marginal deficiency in both populations.

References

1. Vinas, BR, Barba, LR, Ngo, J et al. (2011) Ann Nutr Metab 59, 84–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2. Lowe, NM, Mitra, SR, Foster, PC et al. (2010) Br J Nutr 103, 1706–1710.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3. Vyas, A, Greenhalgh, A, Cade, J et al. (2003) J Hum Nutr Dietet 16, 327–337.CrossRefGoogle Scholar