Interaction of niacin and zinc metabolism in patients with alcoholic pellagra

Article Abstract:

Chronic alcoholism is often associated with decrease consumption of protein and with vitamin deficiencies. The dietary disease pellagra results from a diet based on corn or sorghum or in chronic alcoholics. Research has shown that metabolic pathways involved in the metabolism of niacin are affected and that these problems may be related to underlying deficiencies of the Vitamin B complex (including niacin). Similarly alcoholism is know to be associated with a chronic depression of zinc levels, which can trigger difficulties with several enzyme transport systems. These data point to the fact that alcoholism can induce a zinc deficiency which can, in turn, cause deficiencies of other nutrients, particularly niacin. The current study attempts to measure the effect of zinc supplementation on the urinary level of niacin and blood level of tryptophane, a niacin precursor, in patients with alcoholic pellagra. Patients were placed on a diet which excluded tryptophan, zinc and niacin and they were divided into two groups: (1) untreated; (2) supplementation with 220 mg of zinc sulfate. Those patients given supplemental zinc increased their blood level of zinc and increased their urinary output of the break-down products (metabolites) of niacin. The results tend to associate zinc with niacin metabolism in alcoholic pellagra patients with vitamin B-6 being a likely mediating agent.

Care and treatment, Research, Analysis, Complications and side effects, Alcoholism, Pellagra, Niacin, Vitamin B deficiency, Alcoholic myopathy

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Long-term nutritional status of an enterally nourished institutionalized population

Article Abstract:

Six male and five female patients who are severely mentally retarded, have epilepsy, and are bedridden were included in this study. These patients were fed by a tube placed in their stomach through their abdomen (gastrostomy), and were also maintained on anticonvulsant medication. The duration of the study was one year during which the effects of various dietary regimens, including dietary fiber and Vitamin D, were evaluated. Blood levels of zinc, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorous were measured in six of these patients and compared at various stages of the experimental procedure. The body weight and height of these young patients (seven to 17 years) were found to increase during the year and there was evidence of good protein metabolism (positive nitrogen balance). The study does suggest that the requirements of zinc and calcium for this population may be approximately 150 percent of the Recommended Dietary Allowance. Vitamin D supplementation had no statistically significant effect in these children. The data strongly suggests that the nutritional requirements of nutrients for special groups, such as this population of severely mentally retarded, bedridden children may require individualized dietary attention.

Usage, Food and nutrition, Calcium in the body, Calcium (Nutrient), Protein metabolism, Institutional care, Enteral feeding, Enteral nutrition, Mentally disabled persons, Mentally disabled children

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Homeostatic regulation of zinc absorption and endogenous losses in zinc-deprived men

Article Abstract:

In humans, the proportion of zinc absorbed increases with a decrease in the dietary intake of zinc. But the mechanisms involved in maintaining the balance of zinc in the body when dietary intake of zinc is low are not known. Hence, the absorption and intestinal losses of zinc were assessed in five men who were subjected to zinc deprivation. When the intake of zinc in the diet was reduced from 85 to 12 micromoles per day, the excretion of zinc in the urine decreased by an average of 48 percent and in the feces by an average of 46 percent, within 25 days, in four of the subjects. Zinc absorption increased from 38 to 93 percent after 15 days of zinc deprivation. The fifth man was recovering from alcohol-induced hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver. After 15 days of zinc deprivation, this subject showed decreases in urine and fecal zinc of 64 and 41 percent, respectively, and an increase in zinc absorption from 46 to 93 percent. The adaptive response of the body to zinc deprivation requires further investigation so that current dietary recommendations can be evaluated and reconsidered. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Diet therapy, Trace minerals (Nutrients)

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