Effectiveness of eight-week zinc supplementation on vitamin D3 status and leptin levels in a population of postmenopausal women: a double-blind randomized trial
Héctor Vázquez-Lorente Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology Volume 65, May 2021, 126730
Highlights
• An eight-week zinc intervention improved vitamin D3 status.
• Vitamin D3 increased more deeply in women with lower age at menopause.
• Zinc intake and status are inversely related with serum leptin levels.
• This is the first trial including the effect of a zinc supplementation upon vitamin D3 status.
Background
The menopausal period is characterized by hormonal imbalance related to the alteration of parameters involved in lipid metabolism. In addition, menopause increases the risk of deficiencies of key vitamins and minerals such as vitamin D and zinc in such women. The present study investigates the influence of zinc supplementation on the status of vitamin D3 and other lipid parameters in postmenopausal women.
Methods
Fifty-one healthy postmenopausal women aged 44–76 years from the province of Granada (Spain) were divided into two groups (placebo and zinc) of 25 and 26 women, respectively. The zinc group was supplemented with 50 mg/day of zinc for 8 weeks. Nutrient intake assessment was performed by means of a 24 -h reminder. Zinc was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Vitamin D was analyzed by liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry. Leptin was determined by enzyme immunoassay.
Results
Zinc supplementation improved the initial vitamin D3 status of the postmenopausal population (p = 0.049). Plasma levels of 25−OH-D3 increased significantly after Zn supplementation in women with lower age at menopause (p = 0.045). Both intake and plasma zinc levels were inversely correlated to serum leptin levels (p = 0.044 and p = 0.033, respectively), being significantly lower in lower age at menopause (p < 0.001).
Conclusion
Zinc supplementation improved vitamin D3 status and was associated to low leptin levels in the postmenopausal women of the study.