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Updated: Jun 30, 2025

Assessing Mineral Availability in Fish Feeds using Complementary Methods Demonstrated with the Example of Zinc in Atlantic Salmon
Published on: October 29, 2021
Zinc unbound concentration as an anchor to drive individualize repletion
D Metsu1, C Cinq-Frais2, C Camare3
1Department of Clinical Laboratory, Montauban Hospital, Montauban, France; Institute of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases (I2MC), Equipe MetaDiab, University of Toulouse, INSERM, University of Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France.
Background And Aims:
Zinc (Zn) quantification is of particular interest in many clinical condition (e.g. inflammatory disease, critical care). Currently, Zn status is assessed by measuring plasma/serum concentration. This concentration corresponds to the sum of unbound Zn (Zn-Cu) and Zn highly bound to albumin (Zn-Cb).
Methods:
Using a pharmacokinetic approach to the interpretation of total Zn concentration (Zn-Ct), taking into account Zn-Cu and the influence of hypoalbuminemia on Zn-Cb, it is possible to improve the individualization of Zn repletion.
Results:
Therefore, during pregnancy and in certain inflammatory disease situations, repletion may not be necessary. However, as in critical care, it would be more appropriate to perform Zn-Cu assays to improve Zn repletion.
Conclusion:
Coupled total and unbound Zn should be monitored in order to individualize Zn repletion.
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