Association between serum zinc concentrations and metabolic risk factors among Chinese children and adolescents

The aim of the present study was to examine whether serum Zn concentrations were associated with metabolic risk factors in Chinese children and adolescents. This was a cross-sectional study including 3241 participants, aged 6 to 17 years, from Jiangsu, China. Metabolic risk factors included fasting glucose (FG), total cholesterol (TC), TAG, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Data were analysed using multi-variable linear regression and generalised additive models, which were adjusted for age, sex, high-sensitive C-reactive protein, estimated glomerular filtration rate, BMI and region of residence, to assess the associations of serum Zn concentrations with metabolic risk factors. We observed a negative association between serum Zn concentrations and FG (coefficient = -0 center dot 532; 95 % CI -0 center dot 569, -0 center dot 495; P < 0 center dot 001). Moreover, TC (coefficient = 0 center dot 175; 95 % CI 0 center dot 127, 0 center dot 222; P < 0 center dot 001), HDL-cholesterol (coefficient = 0 center dot 137; 95 % CI 0 center dot 082, 0 center dot 193; P < 0 center dot 001) and LDL-cholesterol (coefficient = 0 center dot 195; 95 % CI 0 center dot 128, 0 center dot 263; P < 0 center dot 001) were found to be positively associated with Zn levels. A generalised additive model showed that the negative association between serum Zn and FG was weak at lower serum Zn concentrations and was stronger with the increase in serum Zn concentrations. Additionally, a U-shaped association between serum Zn and TAG was observed. Serum Zn concentrations were associated with FG, TC, TAG, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels in Chinese children and adolescents. Lower levels of serum Zn were more likely related to a poor metabolic status.

Automated summary

The study examined the association between serum Zn concentrations and metabolic risk factors in Chinese children and adolescents. It found that lower serum Zn levels were more likely associated with a poor metabolic status, as evidenced by their negative association with FG and positive associations with TC, HDL-cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol levels.