Zinc supplementation on GH, IGF1, IGFBP3, and OCN in non-zinc-deficient children
Zinc administration, Zinc supplementation, GH-IGF1 system, Growth, Children
Objective: Zinc is an important micronutrient for numerous biochemical processes in humans and animal models and is an essential nutritional factor in the growth. As almost all publications were reported in children with zinc deficiency, we decided to study the effects of this micronutrient on the secretion of GH, IGF1, IGFBP3, and OCN in healthy children and eutrophic. Methods: The children were divided in control group (20 schoolchildren using 10% sorbitol) and experimental group (20 schoolchildren using zinc). These schoolchildren were submitted to oral zinc supplementation (10 mg Zn/day) and venous zinc administration (0.06537 mg Zn/kg of body weight). Blood samples were collected at 0, 60, 120, 180, and 210 min. And all children were also submitted to anthropometric and dietetic assessments. Results: Zinc supplementation in the experimental group (i) increased values of energy, protein and fat (p = 0.0007, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, respectively), (ii) increased basal serum zinc (p < 0.0001), (iii) increased plasma alkaline phosphatase (p = 0.0270), and (iv) showed positive correlation for IGF1, IGFBP3, and OCN, comparing before and after supplementation (p = 0.0011, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0446, respectively). During zinc infusion, plasma IGF1 and IGFBP3 increased significantly in the experimental group (p = 0.0468, p < 0.0001, respectively). Conclusions: Zinc supplementation increased total energy, protein, and fat intake, as well as basal serum zinc and plasma alkaline phosphatase. Zinc administration increased serum zinc profiles and IGF1 and IGFBP3 in the experimental group.