Zinc Supplements Taken with Food Increase Essential Fatty Acid Desaturation Indices in Adult Men Compared with Zinc Taken in the Fasted State

Background: Zinc intake is associated with reduced risk of metabolic disease in adults, possibly due in part to zinc's role in essential fatty acid (EFA) desaturation. Although plasma zinc is the accepted indicator of zinc status, product-to-precursor activity indices of fatty acid desaturase (FADS) 1 and 2 have also been proposed as response indicators for changes in zinc intake. Objectives: To examine zinc supplement effects on plasma zinc concentration (PZC) and estimated FADS 1 and 2 activities, when zinc supplements are taken with food compared with fasted. Methods: Apparently healthy adult men were randomly allocated to take 25 mg zinc as zinc gluconate either in the fasted state 30 min before breakfast [zinc before breakfast (ZBB)1 or with breakfast [zinc with breakfast (ZWB)1 daily for 13 d. Fasting PZC was measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Selected EFAs for FADS activity indices were measured by LC-MS/MS at study baseline and end. Results: A total of 35 men completed the study (ZBB, n = 18; ZWB, n = 17). Mean +/- SEM PZC was 86.2 +/- 1.64 mu g/dL at baseline. After 2 wk of zinc supplementation, the PZCs were 18% higher in the ZBB compared with the ZWB groups (105 +/- 5.88 compared with 88.7 +/- 2.36 mu g/dL, P = < 0.05). However, the geometric mean (95% CI) FADS1 activity indices were 15% higher in the ZWB than the ZBB participants, 6.45 (5.84, 7.13) compared with 5.57 (5.05, 6.14), P < 0.05. Conclusions: These data demonstrate a lack of congruence between the effects of zinc supplements on PZC and EFA metabolism in response to whether a zinc supplement is taken with or without food. Additional research is needed to determine how absorbed zinc may be directed differently toward metabolic processes, when coabsorbed with food.

Automated summary

This study found that taking zinc supplements on an empty stomach may increase plasma zinc concentration but decrease FADS1 activity indices, indicating a lack of congruence between the effects of zinc supplements on plasma zinc concentration and essential fatty acid metabolism when taken with or without food.