A Novel Bio-marker of Zinc Status

June 6, 2017 updated by: International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh

Exploring the Possibility of Using Intestinal mRNA Levels of Zinc Transporter Genes, and Changes in Their Expression Levels in Response to Zinc Supplementation as a Bio-marker for Zinc Status

Zinc deficiency is a widespread public health problem in developing countries. The true prevalence of this condition remains uncertain because of lack of a specific, sensitive and reliable biomarker for assessment of human zinc status. The most widely used indicator for measuring zinc status is serum zinc level, which, however, is homeostatically regulated and influenced by stress and infection. To explore the possibility of using mRNA levels of zinc responsive genes as an indicator of zinc status, Cao and Cousins suggested metallothionein (MT) mRNA level in monocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells as an indicator of recent zinc uptake. However, the usefulness of MT mRNA is also limited because its level is influenced by other metals, such as copper, cadmium and cobalt and it is also affected by stress. Several authors have proposed that expression of zinc transporter genes might be useful markers of Zn status. Evidence shows reduction in dietary zinc content produces a marked increase in intestinal absorption and decrease in intestinal zinc losses. As zinc homeostasis is regulated in the intestine, study of the zinc transporters in this organ may provide indication of recent zinc uptake. Recently, a few studies have begun to investigate the applicability of using white blood cell zinc transporter expression as an indicator of zinc status and found that some of the transporters are zinc responsive. The primary objective of this study is to explore whether the expression of zinc responsive genes, such as zinc transporters in human intestinal mucosal cells, can be used as indicators of zinc status. The specific aims are to compare gene expression in: a) intestinal mucosal cells obtained by duodenal biopsy, b) sloughed intestinal mucosal cells isolated from feces, and c) peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in fasting individuals who are receiving their usual diet + placebo or their usual diet + supplemental zinc (20 mg/d for 7 days). Gene expression values from intestinal mucosal cells (biopsy) will be compared between the placebo and zinc supplemented groups. Similar comparison will be done in the cells isolated from stool and PBMCs. This study will also provide an opportunity to compare the relative responsiveness of gene expression and serum zinc concentration following supplementation and to explore the kinetics of any changes in serum zinc concentration. Thus, blood samples will be obtained for measuring serum zinc concentration on two occasions prior to the interventions and at specified intervals during and after the intervention.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Phase

  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 35 years (ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Healthy, non-smoking

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Suffering from diarrhea

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: zinc supplementation (20 mg/d, for 7 d)
Biological: Zinc

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh

Collaborators

University of California, Davis

Publications and helpful links

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Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (ACTUAL)

July 1, 2007

Primary Completion (ACTUAL)

December 31, 2010

Study Completion (ACTUAL)

December 31, 2010

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 3, 2010

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 3, 2010

First Posted (ESTIMATE)

February 4, 2010

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ACTUAL)

June 7, 2017

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 6, 2017

Last Verified

February 1, 2010

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2006-004

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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