American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 66, 80-88, Copyright © 1997 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc

ORIGINAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Zinc absorption in women during pregnancy and lactation: a longitudinal study

EB Fung, LD Ritchie, LR Woodhouse, R Roehl and JC King
Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of California Berkeley, USA. ebfung@pobox.upenn.edu

Zinc is essential for normal fetal growth and development and for milk production during lactation. The metabolic adjustments made in zinc utilization to meet these needs have not been described. The purpose of this study was to determine whether fractional zinc absorption (FZA) is altered during pregnancy and lactation and, if so, to determine whether the change is related to maternal zinc status, specifically, concentrations of zinc in plasma, erythrocytes, urine, and breast milk and dietary zinc intake. Thirteen women were studied at five time points: once preconception; at 8-10, 24-26, and 34-36 wk gestation; and once while they were lactating 7-9 wk postpartum. Zinc intake increased by 35 mumol/d (2.3 mg/d) from preconception to 34-36 wk (P = 0.04); it tended to decrease (P > 0.05) during lactation but did not return to the preconception level. The amount of zinc in breast milk averaged 2.0 mg/d at the lactation time point. FZA measured from urinary enrichments of two stable isotopes of zinc increased from 14% preconception to 25% during lactation (P = 0.023) but the increase to 19% at 34-36 wk gestation was not significant. No increase in FZA occurred in four women who took iron supplements during lactation. FZA was negatively correlated with plasma zinc concentration at 34-36 wk gestation and with urinary zinc excretion at all time points. The nearly twofold increase in zinc absorption during lactation was presumably in response to the demand for zinc to synthesize breast milk.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. S Chung, J. Stookey, D. Dare, R. Welch, T. Q Nguyen, R. Roehl, J. M Peerson, J. C King, and K. H Brown Current dietary zinc intake has a greater effect on fractional zinc absorption than does longer term zinc consumption in healthy adult men Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 2008; 87(5): 1224 - 1229. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Caire-Juvera, M. I. Ortega, E. Casanueva, A. V. Bolanos, and A. M. C. de la Barca Food Components and Dietary Patterns of Two Different Groups of Mexican Lactating Women J. Am. Coll. Nutr., April 1, 2007; 26(2): 156 - 162. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. J Harvey, J. R Dainty, W. J Hollands, V. J Bull, J. A Hoogewerff, R. J Foxall, L. McAnena, J. Strain, and S. J Fairweather-Tait Effect of high-dose iron supplements on fractional zinc absorption and status in pregnant women Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2007; 85(1): 131 - 136. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K M. Hambidge, Y. Abebe, R. S Gibson, J. E Westcott, L. V Miller, S. Lei, B. J Stoecker, I. Arbide, A. Teshome, K. B Bailey, et al. Zinc absorption during late pregnancy in rural southern Ethiopia. Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, November 1, 2006; 84(5): 1102 - 1106. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. A. Chiplonkar and V. V. Agte Predicting bioavailable zinc from lower phytate forms, folic Acid and their interactions with zinc in vegetarian meals. J. Am. Coll. Nutr., February 1, 2006; 25(1): 26 - 33. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. M. Blanck, M. E Cogswell, C. Gillespie, and M. Reyes Iron supplement use and iron status among US adults: results from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, November 1, 2005; 82(5): 1024 - 1031. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. M Donangelo, C. L Vargas Zapata, L. R Woodhouse, D. M Shames, R. Mukherjea, and J. C King Zinc absorption and kinetics during pregnancy and lactation in Brazilian women Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, July 1, 2005; 82(1): 118 - 124. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. J. M. Osendarp, C. E. West, and R. E. Black The Need for Maternal Zinc Supplementation in Developing Countries: An Unresolved Issue J. Nutr., March 1, 2003; 133(3): 817S - 827. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. Liuzzi, J. A. Bobo, L. Cui, R. J. McMahon, and R. J. Cousins Zinc Transporters 1, 2 and 4 Are Differentially Expressed and Localized in Rats during Pregnancy and Lactation J. Nutr., February 1, 2003; 133(2): 342 - 351. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. S. Chung, D. A. Nagey, C. Veillon, K. Y. Patterson, R. T. Jackson, and P. B. Moser-Veillon A Single 60-mg Iron Dose Decreases Zinc Absorption in Lactating Women J. Nutr., July 1, 2002; 132(7): 1903 - 1905. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. C King Enhanced zinc utilization during lactation may reduce maternal and infant zinc depletion Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2002; 75(1): 2 - 3. [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Sian, N. F Krebs, J. E Westcott, L. Fengliang, L. Tong, L. V Miller, B. Sonko, and M. Hambidge Zinc homeostasis during lactation in a population with a low zinc intake Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2002; 75(1): 99 - 103. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Y. Patterson and C. Veillon Stable Isotopes of Minerals as Metabolic Tracers in Human Nutrition Research Experimental Biology and Medicine, April 1, 2001; 226(4): 271 - 282. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. C. King Effect of Reproduction on the Bioavailability of Calcium, Zinc and Selenium J. Nutr., April 1, 2001; 131(4): 1355S - 1358. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				K. O. O’Brien, N. Zavaleta, L. E. Caulfield, J. Wen, and S. A. Abrams Prenatal Iron Supplements Impair Zinc Absorption in Pregnant Peruvian Women J. Nutr., September 1, 2000; 130(9): 2251 - 2255. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. C King Physiology of pregnancy and nutrient metabolism Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 2000; 71(5): 1218S - 1225. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. C. King, D. M. Shames, and L. R. Woodhouse Zinc Homeostasis in Humans J. Nutr., May 1, 2000; 130(5): 1360S - 1366. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				N. F. Krebs Overview of Zinc Absorption and Excretion in the Human Gastrointestinal Tract J. Nutr., May 1, 2000; 130(5): 1374S - 1377. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				L. E. Caulfield, N. Zavaleta, A. Figueroa, and Z. Leon Maternal Zinc Supplementation Does Not Affect Size at Birth or Pregnancy Duration in Peru J. Nutr., August 1, 1999; 129(8): 1563 - 1568. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				L. E Caulfield, N. Zavaleta, and A. Figueroa Adding zinc to prenatal iron and folate supplements improves maternal and neonatal zinc status in a Peruvian population Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, June 1, 1999; 69(6): 1257 - 1263. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. O O'Brien, N. Zavaleta, L. E Caulfield, D.-X. Yang, and S. A Abrams Influence of prenatal iron and zinc supplements on supplemental iron absorption, red blood cell iron incorporation, and iron status in pregnant Peruvian women Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, March 1, 1999; 69(3): 509 - 515. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]