Sensitivity of fatty acid desaturation and elongation to plasma zinc concentration: a randomised controlled trial in Beninese children

• DOI: 10.1017/s000711451700366x
• Publication Date: 2018-01-21T13:24:05Z
• Authors: Tsitsi Chimhashu; Linda Malan; Jeannine Baumgartner; Paul J. van Jaars...; Valeria Galetti; Diego Moretti; Cornelius M. Smuts; Michael B. Zimmer...
• Keywords: Fatty Acid Desaturases; Male; Rural Population; 0301 basic medicine; 571; Body Mass Index; Linoleic Acid; 03 medical and health sciences; 8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid; Double-Blind Method; Benin; Humans; Child; Phospholipids; Zinc fortification; 2. Zero hunger; Arachidonic Acid; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Fatty acid desaturase; Fatty Acids; Fatty acid; Zinc; Plasma zinc; C-Reactive Protein; Sample Size; Fatty acid; Plasma zinc; Zinc fortification; Fatty acid desaturase; Food, Fortified; Female; Biomarkers

Abstract Zn status may affect fatty acid (FA) metabolism because it acts as a cofactor in FA desaturase and elongase enzymes. supplementation affects the desaturases of Zn-deficient rats, but whether this occurs humans is unclear. We evaluated associations between baseline plasma (PZn) concentration total phospholipid composition, well effect daily consumption Zn-fortified water on Beninese children. A 20-week, double-blind randomised controlled trial was conducted 186 school age The children were randomly assigned to receive portion Zn-fortified, filtered delivering average 2·8 mg Zn/d or non-fortified water. Plasma composition determined using capillary GLC PZn concentrations by atomic absorption spectrometry. At baseline, correlated positively with dihomo- γ -linolenic (DGLA, r 0·182; P =0·024) DGLA:linoleic (LA) ratio ( 0·293; <0·000), negatively LA −0·211; =0·009) arachidonic acid:DGLA −0·170; =0·036). With intervention, fortification increased nervonic B : 0·109; 95 % CI 0·001, 0·218) all n 186) more so who 60) at B: 0·230; 0·023, 0·488). In conclusion, study, prevented reduction phospholipids children, stronger Thus, play an important role desaturation and/or elongation.