Zinc status (intake and level) of healthy elderly individuals in Riyadh and its relationship to physical health and cognitive impairment
Hissah Mohammed Alqabbani Clinical Nutrition Experimental January 14, 2020
Objective
The aim of the current study was to assess the zinc status (intake and level) and its relationship to cognitive impairment among men and women aged 65 years and above in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Methods
A cross-sectional single-center study was conducted in 400 participants (200 men and 200 women) aged 65 years and above. They were randomly chosen in the primary care centers in Riyadh. The impaired cognitive functions were measured using the Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMTS). Plasma zinc concentration was analyzed using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
Results
The mean plasma zinc concentration was 70 ± 2.34 μg/dL, 36% of studied participants had zinc deficiency. Zinc deficiency was significant more frequent in women than men (45% versus 27%, respectively) (p < 0.001). The impaired cognitive functions (AMTS ≤8) were found in 35% of participants, women were also significantly more frequent than men (40% versus 25%, respectively) (p < 0.001). The dietary zinc intake in both men and women were significantly lower than the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) values (p = 0.03) (p = 0.02) respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between plasma zinc concentration and AMTS with respect to overall participants and both men and women (r = 0.31, p < 0.001), (r = 0.35, p < 0.001), and (r = 0.29, p < 0.001) respectively.
Conclusion
Our study indicates that zinc status may be associated with cognitive impairment measured by AMTS in the Saudi elderly population.