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Correlation Between Zinc Nutritional Status with Serum Zonulin and Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Diarrhea-Predominant
Mahsa Rezazadegan1, Maryam Soheilipour2, Mohammad Javad Tarrahi3
1Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Background:
Zinc is known to have a critical role in the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis, immune cells, and anti-diarrheal and anti-inflammatory actions.
Aims:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between zinc status with serum zonulin and gastrointestinal symptoms in diarrhea-predominant patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D).
Methods:
This case-control study included 61 newly diagnosed IBS-D patients and 61 healthy matched controls. Dietary zinc intake, serum zinc, and zonulin levels were measured. IBS severity was evaluated using the IBS severity score system (IBS-SSS) questionnaire.
Results:
Serum zinc levels were lower in the IBS-D group compared with the controls (p = 0.001). Serum zinc was negatively correlated with serum zonulin in IBS-D patients (r = - 0.271; p = 0.035). Also, a reverse association between the serum zinc and odds of IBS-D was found [OR = 0.979; 95% CI (0.966-0.992)].
Conclusions:
Our results suggest that zinc may have a role in the pathogenesis of IBS. However, clinical trial studies are warranted to evaluate this finding.
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