Effect of zinc supplementation on serum zinc concentration and T cell proliferation in nursing home elderly: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition 2016-03, Vol.103 (3), p.942-951
• Main Authors: Barnett, Junaidah B, Dao, Maria C, Hamer, Davidson H, Kandel, Ruth, Brandeis, Gary, Wu, Dayong, Dallal, Gerard E, Jacques, Paul F, Schreiber, Robert, Kong, Eunhee, Meydani, Simin N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging - blood; Aging - immunology; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Deficiency Diseases - blood; Deficiency Diseases - prevention & control; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Female; Gene expression; Homes for the Aged; Humans; Immunology; Lymphocyte Activation - drug effects; Male; Nursing Homes; Nutrition research; T cell receptors; T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Trace Elements - blood; Trace Elements - deficiency; Trace Elements - pharmacology; Trace Elements - therapeutic use; Zinc; Zinc - blood; Zinc - deficiency; Zinc - pharmacology; Zinc - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.115.115188

Zinc is essential for the regulation of immune response. T cell function declines with age. Zinc supplementation has the potential to improve the serum zinc concentrations and immunity of nursing home elderly with a low serum zinc concentration. We aimed to determine the effect of supplementation with 30 mg Zn/d for 3 mo on serum zinc concentrations of zinc-deficient nursing home elderly. This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Of 53 nursing home elderly (aged ≥65 y) who met eligibility criteria, 58% had a low serum zinc concentration (serum zinc