American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 67, 421-430, Copyright © 1998 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc

ORIGINAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Zinc absorption, mineral balance, and blood lipids in women consuming controlled lactoovovegetarian and omnivorous diets for 8 wk

JR Hunt, LA Matthys and LK Johnson
US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, ND 58202-9034, USA.

Zinc absorption, mineral balance, and blood lipid concentrations were measured in 21 women aged 33 +/- 7 y (range: 20-42 y) consuming controlled lactoovovegetarian and nonvegetarian diets for 8 wk each in a crossover design. The lactoovovegetarian and nonvegetarian diets, respectively, provided (by analysis) 973 and 995 mg Ca, 1.8 and 1.3 mg Cu, 367 and 260 mg Mg, 5.9 and 2.5 mg Mn, 1457 and 1667 mg P, 9.1 and 11.1 mg Zn, and (by calculation) 40 and 16 g dietary fiber, 2.5 and 0.8 mmol phytic acid, molar ratios of phytate to Zn of 14 and 5, and millimolar ratios of (phytate x Ca) to Zn of 344 and 111. Dietary zinc absorption was measured by extrinsic isotopic labeling and whole-body counting. Plasma cholesterol, cholesterol fractions, and lipoproteins were reduced 7-12% with the lactoovovegetarian diet, consistent with predictions based on dietary cholesterol and fat. Blood pressure was unaffected. Calcium, copper, magnesium, and phosphorus balances were not different between diets; manganese balance tended to be greater with the lactoovovegetarian diet (P < 0.07). The lactoovovegetarian diet was associated with a 21% reduction in absorptive efficiency that, together with a 14% reduction in dietary zinc, reduced the amount of zinc absorbed by 35% (2.4 compared with 3.7 mg/d) and reduced plasma zinc by 5% within the normal range. Zinc balance was maintained with both diets. Although there is a greater risk of zinc deficiency in persons consuming lactoovovegetarian compared with omnivorous diets, with inclusion of whole grains and legumes zinc requirements can be met and zinc balance maintained.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. R Hunt, J. M Beiseigel, and L. K Johnson Adaptation in human zinc absorption as influenced by dietary zinc and bioavailability Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 2008; 87(5): 1336 - 1345. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Roney, M. Osier, S. J. Paikoff, C. V. Smith, M. Williams, and C. T. De Rosa ATSDR evaluation of potential for human exposure to zinc Toxicology and Industrial Health, June 1, 2007; 23(5-6): 247 - 308. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H. Joung, B. Y. Jeun, S. J. Li, J. Kim, L. R. Woodhouse, J. C. King, R. M. Welch, and H. Y. Paik Fecal Phytate Excretion Varies with Dietary Phytate and Age in Women J. Am. Coll. Nutr., June 1, 2007; 26(3): 295 - 302. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. V. Miller, N. F. Krebs, and K. M. Hambidge A Mathematical Model of Zinc Absorption in Humans As a Function of Dietary Zinc and Phytate J. Nutr., January 1, 2007; 137(1): 135 - 141. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. A. Cichy, S. Forster, K. F. Grafton, and G. L. Hosfield Inheritance of Seed Zinc Accumulation in Navy Bean Crop Sci., March 28, 2005; 45(3): 864 - 870. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Ducros, J. Arnaud, M. Tahiri, C. Coudray, F. Bornet, C. Bouteloup-Demange, F. Brouns, Y. Rayssiguier, and A. M. Roussel Influence of Short-Chain Fructo-Oligosaccharides (sc-FOS) on Absorption of Cu, Zn, and Se in Healthy Postmenopausal Women J. Am. Coll. Nutr., February 1, 2005; 24(1): 30 - 37. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Hotz, J. M Peerson, and K. H Brown Suggested lower cutoffs of serum zinc concentrations for assessing zinc status: reanalysis of the second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data (1976-1980) Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, October 1, 2003; 78(4): 756 - 764. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. R Hunt Bioavailability of iron, zinc, and other trace minerals from vegetarian diets Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, September 1, 2003; 78(3): 633S - 639. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. A. Venti and C. S. Johnston Modified Food Guide Pyramid for Lactovegetarians and Vegans J. Nutr., May 1, 2002; 132(5): 1050 - 1054. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. R Hunt and R. A Vanderpool Apparent copper absorption from a vegetarian diet Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, December 1, 2001; 74(6): 803 - 807. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. R Hunt and Z. K Roughead Nonheme-iron absorption, fecal ferritin excretion, and blood indexes of iron status in women consuming controlled lactoovovegetarian diets for 8 wk Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 1999; 69(5): 944 - 952. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]