Objective Intake of protective nutritional components, including zinc, is critical for older people. Zinc enrichment may be beneficial for health, but excess zinc may interact with Fe and Cu metabolism. We propose to determine the response to nutritional supplementation of zinc in cohorts of late middle-aged and older men and women from different European countries. Volunteers will receive a placebo or two levels of zinc supplement for 6 months. Effects of zinc supplementation on relevant micronutrient status and intestinal absorption of zinc will be evaluated. Cognitive function and psychological and physiological factors will be monitored. Beneficial effects and possible adverse effects, on surrogate biomarkers of health and physiological factors, will be detonated at baseline, 3 and 6 months of zinc supplementation. This proposal will provide a scientific basis for formulation of public health recommendations on dietary zinc intake in ageing Europeans. Fields of science medical and health scienceshealth sciencespublic healthnatural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologycognitive neurosciencenatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrytransition metals Programme(s) FP5-LIFE QUALITY - Specific Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Quality of life and management of living resources", 1998-2002 Topic(s) 1.1.1.-1. - Key action Food, Nutrition and Health Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator N/A EU contribution No data Address See on map Total cost No data Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all CAMBRIDGE COGNITION LTD United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Turnbridge Court, Turnbridge Lane, Bottisham CB5 9DU CAMBRIDGE See on map Total cost No data NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF RESEARCH FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION Italy EU contribution No data Address 546,Via Ardeatina 546 00178 ROMA See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITE JOSEPH FOURIER - GRENOBLE 1 France EU contribution No data Address avenue Centrale 621 38041 GRENOBLE See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, CORK Ireland EU contribution No data Address Western Road 30 Cork See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Cromore Road BT52 1SA COLERAINE See on map Total cost No data