EURRECA-Estimating zinc requirements for deriving dietary reference values.

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Science
• Public Health Nutrition
• Dietary Assessment

Background:

• Significant heterogeneity exists in European Dietary Reference Values (DRVs) for zinc.
• Inadequate zinc intake is a global concern across all population groups.
• EURRECA prioritized zinc due to public health implications.

Purpose of the Study:

• Develop best practice guidelines for assessing dietary zinc intake and status.
• Establish protocols for studies on zinc intake, status, and health relationships.
• Inform the development of dietary recommendations using a factorial approach, considering bioavailability.

Main Methods:

• Conducted comprehensive literature reviews following EURRECA consortium principles.
• Searched EMBASE, Cochrane Library CENTRAL, and MEDLINE databases up to February 2010.
• Performed meta-analyses on extracted data to address specific questions for DRV setting.

Main Results:

• Identified significant gaps in current knowledge regarding zinc assessment and requirements.
• Highlighted the need for a reliable biomarker for zinc status.
• Emphasized the influence of genetic polymorphisms and dietary inhibitors on zinc requirements.

Conclusions:

• More high-quality research is needed to refine zinc dietary recommendations.
• Developing accurate models for zinc absorption inhibitors is essential.
• Continued investigation into biomarkers and genetic factors is critical for personalized nutrition.