Zinc, magnesium, copper, and protein concentrations in human saliva: age- and sex-related differences.

Normal concentrations of trace elements in parotid saliva, supernatant- and sediment-mixed saliva, plasma, and hair were determined in 278 healthy adults grouped as young (18-29 y), middle-aged (30-64 y), and elderly (65-93 y). Age-related increases (p less than 0.05) were observed in concentrations of zinc in the supernatant of mixed saliva and parotid saliva, copper in plasma, and protein in all fractions of saliva studied. Concentrations of zinc in salivary sediment and plasma did not vary with age. Age-related decreases (p less than 0.05) were found in concentrations of magnesium in mixed-saliva supernatant, copper in salivary sediment, and zinc and copper in hair. Males had higher concentrations of zinc in plasma (p less than 0.05) and of copper in sediment (p less than 0.01) than did females but lower amounts of copper in plasma and of protein in parotid saliva (p less than 0.05). Concentrations of zinc in saliva were not correlated with those in plasma or hair. Copper in mixed-saliva supernatant was positively associated with concentrations in plasma but negatively related to concentrations in hair.

The effect of zinc deficiency and food restriction on prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane B2 in saliva and plasma of rats.

Zinc has been implicated in the regulation of prostaglandins and other arachidonic acid derivatives. Studies of zinc-deficient animals, however, are compromised by concomitant reduction in food intake that may also alter eicosanoid levels in body tissues and fluids. In this study, three groups of rats, designated as zinc-deficient, pair-fed and control, were fed diets containing 1 ppm, 15 ppm (in amounts paired to deficient rats) and 15 ppm Zn ad libitum, respectively, for 6 weeks. Saliva and blood were analyzed for PGE2 and TXB2 by radioimmunoassay. Saliva concentrations of both eicosanoids were lower (p less than 0.05) in the pair-fed animals, but not significantly altered by zinc deficiency. Plasma levels of PGE2 and TXB2 were unchanged by either zinc deficiency or food restriction. The results of this study support the contention that the effect of zinc on these prostaglandins is not mediated by altered rates of synthesis or degradation but rather by effects on eicosanoid function.

Nutritional and anthropometric assessment of a sample of pregnant women and young children in Palau.

This study examines the diet and body constitution of a small sample of pregnant women, n = 27, and children, n = 32, enrolled in the Maternal and Child Health program at the Public Health/Community Health Center in Koror, Palau. Twenty-four hour diet recalls were collected from both groups, 17 anthropometric and body composition measurements were made on the women and a range of body measurements from height to a full battery of 28 measures were obtained from the children. Diets were found to be low in energy, calcium and zinc. Women consume micronutrients primarily from fish, traditional starches, vegetables and fruits, while children rely more on fortified grain products and milk. The energy distribution is higher in protein and fat and lower in carbohydrate than earlier reports of adult Palauans. A significant minority of the women (27%) have body fat or body mass index profiles indicative of clinically significant obesity or energy storage deficit, both problematic in terms of pregnancy outcomes. While sample sizes of infant and young child cohorts are very small, our findings indicate that a relatively high proportion of these younger children, have experienced inadequate growth and development This is especially true of females, among whom stunting (height deficients) and especially wasting (weight and arm circumference deficits) were in greater evidence.