The role of zinc in bone formation
The EC-funded ZENITH project examined the effects on zinc supplementation in cohorts of middle-aged and older men and women across the European Union. One of the parameters that were investigated was the effect of zinc nutritive status and biochemical markers of bone turnover. University College Cork researchers carried out a study among 387 healthy adults aged between 55 to 87 years old. Circulating and urinary biochemical Zn status measures were assessed by atomic absorption spectrophometry. Results showed that zinc intake was not correlated with bone formation markers. Although some indications tended to support links between zinc nutritive status and bone turnover in this study, the data were inconclusive. Further avenues of investigation for this line of research could prove extremely beneficial in ascertaining the role of zinc in the health and well being of ageing populations. Furthermore, these findings could form the basis for new comprehensive dietary instructions for the elderly and the middle-aged.
