A relationship between zinc and anthropometric and metabolic indicators of obesity in the population of young russian men

Abstract

Trace elements are important factors in human health. Zinc, an essential trace element, is necessary for normal functioning of many body systems where it plays an important role in metabolism. Obesity is accompanied by various metabolic pathologies provoking the development of dyslipidaemia, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Many studies demonstrate changes in zinc homeostasis in obese men, but the data are conflicting, and a relationship between serum zinc and anthropometric and metabolic indicators remains controversial. In this study we have investigate the relationship between serum zinc level and body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and some metabolic parameters in Russian men. In 260 young men from the general population (n=268, median age 22 years), serum zinc, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL and LDL), glucose and uric acid levels were determined, as well as body weight, height, waist circumference (WC), and BMI were evaluated. According to BMI, men were divided into four groups: deficient and normal body weight, overweight, obesity. According to WC men were subdivided into two groups: normal and abdominal-visceral type of obesity. The median serum zinc concentration in men of the entire studied population was 20.3 μmol/l, and in men with obesity (BMI≥30) the median serum zinc concentration was higher than in the corresponding value in men with normal weight (30.9 and 20.8 μmol/l, respectively, p<0.01). Serum levels of TG, TC and LDL in obese men were also significantly higher (p<0.01) as compared to men with normal weight. In men with abdominal-visceral obesity, the median serum zinc concentration was significantly higher in comparison with control (26.3 and 19.9 μmol/l, respectively, p<0.01). It is suggested that elevated serum zinc level in obese young men can counter chronic inflammation and oxidative stress caused by increased body fat.