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Zn Supplementation (zn + supplementation)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

Dietary Zinc Supplementation Throughout Pregnancy Protects Against Fetal Dysmorphology and Improves Postnatal Survival After Prenatal Ethanol Exposure in Mice

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 4 2009
Brooke L. Summers
Background:, We have previously demonstrated that ethanol teratogenicity is associated with metallothionein-induced fetal zinc (Zn) deficiency, and that maternal subcutaneous Zn treatment given with ethanol in early pregnancy prevents fetal abnormalities and spatial memory impairments in mice. Here we investigated whether dietary Zn supplementation throughout pregnancy can also prevent ethanol-related dysmorphology. Methods:, Pregnant mice were injected with saline or 25% ethanol (0.015 ml/g intraperitoneally at 0 and 4 hours) on gestational day (GD) 8 and fed either a control (35 mg Zn/kg) or a Zn-supplemented diet (200 mg Zn/kg) from GD 0 to 18. Fetuses from the saline, saline + Zn, ethanol and ethanol + Zn groups were assessed for external birth abnormalities on GD 18. In a separate cohort of mice, postnatal growth and survival of offspring from these treatment groups were examined from birth until postnatal day 60. Results:, Fetuses from dams treated with ethanol alone in early pregnancy had a significantly greater incidence of physical abnormalities (26%) compared to those from the saline (10%), saline + Zn (9%), or ethanol + Zn (12%) groups. The incidence of abnormalities in ethanol + Zn-supplemented fetuses was not different from saline-treated fetuses. While ethanol exposure did not affect the number of fetal resorptions or pre- or postnatal weight, there were more stillbirths with ethanol alone, and cumulative postnatal mortality was significantly higher in offspring exposed to ethanol alone (35% deaths) compared to all other treatment groups (13.5 to 20.5% deaths). Mice supplemented with Zn throughout pregnancy had higher plasma Zn concentrations than those in un-supplemented groups. Conclusions:, These findings demonstrate that dietary Zn supplementation throughout pregnancy ameliorates dysmorphology and postnatal mortality caused by ethanol exposure in early pregnancy. [source]

Zinc Supplementation at the Time of Ethanol Exposure Ameliorates Teratogenicity in Mice

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 1 2003
Luke C. Carey
Background: We have previously demonstrated that ethanol teratogenicity in mice is related to the maternal expression of metallothionein (MT), a zinc (Zn)-binding protein. Ethanol induces maternal liver MT, which causes plasma Zn concentrations to decrease as Zn moves into the liver. During pregnancy it is suggested that this change decreases fetal Zn supply and contributes to abnormal development. Here we investigated whether maternal Zn supplementation at the time of ethanol exposure reduces teratogenicity. Methods: Mice were injected with 25% ethanol (0.015 ml/g intraperitoneally at 0 and 4 hr) and ZnSO4 (2.5 ,gZn/g subcutaneously at 0 hr) and were killed over 16 hr to ascertain changes in plasma Zn. Plasma Zn concentrations peaked at 2 hr, where levels were 5-fold normal and then returned toward normal over 14 hr. Pregnant mice were treated in a similar manner on gestation day 8 with saline, saline + Zn, ethanol + Zn, or ethanol alone, and fetal abnormalities were assessed on gestation day 18. Results: External abnormalities were most prevalent in offspring from dams treated with ethanol. Zn treatment at the time of ethanol exposure reduced the incidence of fetal abnormalities to basal levels. Litters from dams treated with ethanol + Zn contained more fetuses and fewer fetal resorption sites compared with those from ethanol-treated dams. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that Zn supplementation at the time of ethanol exposure significantly negates the deleterious effects of ethanol on the fetus. [source]

Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and Zn supplementation in asthmatic children: a randomized self-controlled study

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 4 2009
Mohammed Al Biltagi
Abstract Objectives: Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory airways disease. Nutritional intervention is an important tool to decrease the severity of many chronic inflammatory diseases including asthma. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and Zn in children with moderately persistent asthma. Patients and Methods: Randomly assigned, placebo-self-controlled 60 children with moderate persistent asthma completed the study, were subjected to alternating phases of supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and Zn either singly or in combination separated with washout phases. Childhood asthma control test (C-ACT), pulmonary function tests and sputum inflammatory markers were evaluated at the beginning of the study and at the end of each therapeutic phase. Results: There was a significant improvement of C-ACT, pulmonary function tests and sputum inflammatory markers with diet supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and Zn (p < 0.001*). There was also significant improvement with the combined use of the three supplementations than single use of any one of them (p < 0.001*). Conclusion: Diet supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, Zn and vitamin C significantly improved asthma control test, pulmonary function tests and pulmonary inflammatory markers in children with moderately persistent bronchial asthma either singly or in combination. [source]