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Atomic Absorbance Spectroscopy to Measure Intracellular Zinc Pools in Mammalian Cells
Published on: May 16, 2019
Low plasma zinc concentrations in young infants with cystic fibrosis
N F Krebs1, M Sontag, F J Accurso
1Sections of Nutrition and Pulmonology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado, USA.
Insights
Many infants with cystic fibrosis (CF) are zinc deficient at diagnosis. Pancreatic enzyme therapy improved zinc levels in these young patients, highlighting the importance of zinc supplementation in CF management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Gastroenterology
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder affecting multiple organs, including the pancreas.
- Malabsorption is common in CF due to pancreatic insufficiency, potentially impacting micronutrient status.
- Zinc is crucial for immune function and growth, and its status may be compromised in CF.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the zinc status of infants diagnosed with CF.
- To evaluate changes in plasma zinc concentrations before and after initiating pancreatic enzyme therapy.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of infants with CF identified via newborn screening.
- Plasma zinc concentrations measured at diagnosis and, for a subset, after enzyme therapy initiation.
- Analysis of zinc levels based on enzyme use and duration.
Main Results:
- Infants with CF before enzyme therapy had significantly lower plasma zinc (10.4 +/- 2.2 micromol/L) compared to those on enzymes for >/=2 weeks (11.8 +/- 2.3 micromol/L).
- Twenty-nine percent of infants not yet on enzymes exhibited zinc deficiency.
- A mean increase in plasma zinc of 1.64 +/- 3.0 micromol/L was observed after enzyme therapy (P =.005).
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of infants with CF are zinc deficient at diagnosis.
- Pancreatic enzyme therapy is associated with improved zinc status in these infants.
- Zinc supplementation should be considered a key micronutrient in the nutritional management of infants with CF.
Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to examine the zinc status of young infants with cystic fibrosis before and after the initiation of pancreatic enzyme therapy.
Study Design:
Cross-sectional data were obtained for infants with cystic fibrosis identified by newborn screening. Plasma zinc concentrations were measured and analyzed according to enzyme use at the time of the blood draw. On a subgroup of infants, zinc concentrations were determined again after several weeks with enzyme therapy.
Results:
Mean (+/-SD) plasma zinc concentration for the infants studied before the initiation of enzyme therapy was 10.4 +/- 2.2 micromol/L (68.3 +/- 14.7 microgram/dL) (n = 48), which was significantly lower than the mean for those receiving enzymes for >/=2 weeks, 11.8 +/- 2. 3 micromol/L (77.1 +/- 14.9 microgram/dL) (n = 15) (P =.03). For the group not yet receiving enzymes, 29% of infants had zinc concentrations in the deficient range. Data were available before and after enzyme therapy for 30 infants and indicated a mean increase of 1.64 +/- 3.0 micromol/L (10.7 +/- 19.3 microgram/dL) (P =. 005).
Conclusions:
These data suggest that many of the infants were zinc deficient at the time of diagnosis. We conclude that zinc should be included among the specific micronutrients given consideration in the management of cystic fibrosis, particularly in infants.
