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Research Papers
Monitoring and surveillance
Zn is an essential micronutrient present in all body tissues and fluids. It is contained in a large number of enzymes. Second only to Fe, Zn is the most abundant trace element in man(1). Mild Zn deficiency may be associated with impaired taste and smell, reduced immunity and increased risk of pneumonia(2,3). In cases of severe Zn deficiency, skin lesions, anaemia, diarrhoea, anorexia, decreased lymphocyte function, impaired visual function and mental retardation may be observed(4). An increased risk of depression in individuals with Zn deficiency has been previously reported(5). At present, community-based research on the impact of Zn deficiency on mental health is scarce.
Important causes of reduced body Zn include a low intake of Zn-containing foods and a decreased absorption of Zn due to intestinal malabsorption(2). Meat is a good source of Zn. Additionally, plant-based foods contain Zn. However, phytate in many plants reduces the bioavailability of Zn from those plants. Worldwide, Zn deficiency is regarded as a significant contributor to the disease burden, especially among children in developing countries(6). In the developed part of the world, elderly people may be at particular risk for Zn deficiency due to an increased prevalence of malnutrition(7). However, previous studies from Belgium and the UK exploring the relationship between malnutrition and Zn deficiency in elderly individuals have yielded conflicting results(8,9).
Moreover, previous studies addressing Zn status in the general population of elderly men and women have mostly included a limited number of participants; only a few larger population-based studies of Zn status in elderly people have been conducted. The prevalence of Zn deficiency has been found to be between 6 and 15 %(10).
Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to evaluate both the Zn status and the association between Zn deficiency and risk of malnutrition in a large sample of community-living elderly individuals.
Methods
Study population
The Tromsø Study is a population-based health study of the population of Tromsø, a town with 70 000 inhabitants...