Abstract

The zinc fractional absorption of Chinese children in the rural region in Shandong province was studied under the routine dietary model. The volunteers, aged 4.7 ~ 6.3 years, 5 males and 5 females, were recruited from Shandong rural region. Stable 67Zn was used as tracer to label ZnCl2, and Yb was used as a marker of 67Zn recovery. 67ZnCl2 solution and Yb were added to a biscuit, and then administered to volunteers orally. The food and feces samples of all subjects were collected for 12 consecutive days. AAS and TIMS were used for determination of total zinc and stable zinc isotope ratio in food and feces samples, and the zinc fractional absorption was calculated. The daily intakes of iron, protein, fat, ascorbic acid, phytic acid and fibre were determined by AAS or traditional chemical analysis method and compared with RNIs. Results: The results showed that the fractional absorption of zinc is 12.94 ± 3.32%, much lower than that reported in the West. The daily intake of zinc is 11.16 mg, that is 96.67% of RNI, and the intakes of protein and ascorbic acid are only 56.73 and 19.00% of RNIs, respectively. Conclusions: Under the dietary model of Shandong rural region, although the daily intake of zinc has been close to RNI, the children have low zinc fractional absorption. The low intakes of ascorbic acid and protein may play an important role in reducing the zinc availability.

Author Details

Authors

• X. Cui¹
• J. Sun¹
• X.Y. Ling²
• C.F. Zhao²
• Z.J. Liu¹
• G.F. Xu²

Departments

• ¹ Institute of Chemistry and Bacteria Detection, College of Public Health, West Campus of Shandong University, and
• ² Institute of Food and Nutrition, College of Public Health, West Campus of Shandong University, Jinan, PR China

Address

Prof. X. Cui
Institute of Chemistry and Bacteria Detection
College of Public Health
West Campus of Shandong University
Jinan 250012, China
Email: [email protected]

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