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Published on: May 16, 2019
Iron and Zinc Supplementation Does Not Impact Urinary Arsenic Excretion in Mexican School Children
Katarzyna Kordas1, Aditi Roy2, Patricia López3
1Department of Nutritional Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA; Epidemiology and Environmental Health, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY.
Objective:
To examine the role of iron and zinc in arsenic excretion and metabolism in children.
Study Design:
An analysis of urinary arsenic (UAs) concentrations from a double-blind randomized trial originally testing the efficacy of iron and zinc for lowering blood lead levels in children. A 2 × 2 factorial design was used, with children randomized individually, stratified by sex and classroom, to receive 30?mg ferrous fumarate (n?=?148), 30?mg zinc oxide (n?=?144), iron and zinc together (n?=?148), or placebo (n?=?151). Of the 602 children enrolled, 527 completed the 6-month treatment, and 485 had both baseline and final UAs values. The baseline total UAs concentration ranged from 3.2 to 215.9?µg/L.
Results:
At baseline, children in the highest tertile of serum ferritin concentration had higher excretion of dimethylarsinic acid (DMA; 1.93?±?0.86%; P?
Conclusions:
Iron and zinc status are not related to arsenic metabolism in children, and supplementation with these minerals has limited application in lowering arsenic concentrations.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02346188.
