Phylis B. Moser

Effects of diets high in simple sugars on urinary chromium losses

Thirty-seven subjects, 19 men and 18 women, consumed reference diets for 12 weeks formulated by nutritionists to contain optimal levels of protein, fat, carbohydrate, and other nutrients; the following 6 weeks, subjects consumed high sugar diets. The reference diets contained 35% of total calories from complex carbohydrates and 15% from simple sugars while the high sugar diets contained 15% complex carbohydrates and 35% simple sugars. Chromium contents of the reference and high sugar diets were both approximately 16 micrograms per 1000 calories. Compared to the reference diets, consumption of the high sugar diets increased urinary Cr losses from 10% to 300% for 27 of 37 subjects. Urinary Cr excretion of males and females was similar, and there was no significant difference in Cr absorption (calculated from urinary excretion divided by intake times 100) between sexes when adjusted for the increased caloric intake of males. These data demonstrate that consumption of diets high in simple sugars stimulates Cr losses; this coupled with marginal intake of dietary Cr may lead to marginal Cr deficiency, which is associated with impaired glucose and lipid metabolism.

Chromium intake and urinary chromium excretion of trauma patients

Glucose metabolism is altered after trauma and those factors that affect glucose metabolism often affect chromium (Cr) metabolism and excretion. To ascertain whether urinary Cr excretion is affected by the elevated serum glucose and other factors associated with trauma, the serum glucose and urinary Cr and Creatinine (Cre) excretion of seven severely traumatized patients were determined. The Cr concentration of intravenous (IV) fluids administered was determined and approximate Cr intake calculated. For all patients, urinary Cr concentration was high in the initial sample collected within 24 h of admission (10.3 ± 2.5 ng/mL, mean ± SEM) and decreased significantly (P < 0.05) by 42 h (2.0 ±0.6 ng/mL). The mean urinary Cr concentration 42 h following admission was 10 times greater than the urinary Cr concentration of normal, healthy subjects (0.2 ± 0.02 ng/mL). There was no significant change in urinary Cre concentration within 42 h of admission, therefore the ratio of urinary Cr to Cre (ng Cr:mg Cre) also decreased. Serum glucose concentration was elevated at admission (170 ± 18 mg/dL, mean ± SD) and decreased to 145 ± 10 mg/dL by 48 h post-admission. The intravenous fluids, dextrose and NaCl, were the lowest in Cr of the samples tested, range 0.02 to 0.20 ng/mL; lactated Ringer’s solution, with or without dextrose, contained 10-20 times more Cr and plasma protein fraction contained approximately 32 ng/mL. The mean calculated Cr intake for the first 24 h postadmission was 37.1 µg/d, significantly greater (P < 0.01) than intake from 24 to 48 h (0.12 µg/d) and 48-72 h (1.63 µg/d). The IV intake of Cr varied for trauma patients depending on fluids required during treatment, but for all patients the relatively high IV Cr intake was rapidly excreted in the urine. These data demonstrate that urinary Cr concentration is elevated several-fold within 24 h of trauma and that Cr contents of intravenous fluids administered in the days immediately following injury vary dramatically. The effects of trauma alone on Cr excretion are difficult to assess because of the variable intake of Cr from IV fluids.

Nutritional intakes and status of highly trained amenorrheic and eumenorrheic women runners.

This study was conducted to determine whether nutritional status contributes to the amenorrhea associated with long distance running. Dietary intakes and biochemical measures of nutritional status were compared in highly trained amenorrheic (AM) and eumenorrheic (EU) women runners matched for height, weight, percent fat (11% to 12%) and training distance (113 km/week). Serum estradiol (E2) (EU, 104.7 pg/ml, versus AM, 22.5 pg/ml) and cortisol (EU, 22.4 micrograms/dl, versus AM, 26.6 micrograms/dl) concentrations differed between the two groups. Three-day dietary records revealed that fat intake by AM runners was significantly lower than by EU runners (EU, 97 gm/day, versus AM, 66 gm/day). AM runners consumed large amounts of vitamin A activity, probably in the form of B-carotene, and fairly high quantities of crude fiber. Zinc intake by AM runners was well below the recommended dietary allowances (RDA), compared with EU runners (EU, 15.4 mg, versus AM, 10.9 mg). Further, plasma zinc tended to be lower for the AM runners (EU, 85.7 micrograms/dl, versus AM, 81.2 micrograms/dl). It was concluded that the potential contributions of dietary fat, B-carotene, and zinc to inducing changes in menstrual function and the metabolism of certain hormones should be investigated.

Mineral balance of adult men consuming whole or dephytinized wheat bran

Abstract Ten men consumed for 15 days each, 36 g daily of either whole or dephytinized wheat bran. Mineral intakes were the same for each dietary regimen. Phytic acid intake was 2 or 0.2 g and the phytate/zinc molar ratio was 12 or 1.2 when eating whole or dephytinized bran, respectively. Apparent absorption (intake-fecal excretion) of iron, zinc, copper, managenese, magnesium, and calcium tended to be lower when whole bran was consumed. However, balances (intake-[fecal+urinary excretion]) for the last 10 days were for the most part positive regardless of which type of bran and more positive when whole bran was eaten. The whole wheat bran did not have a deleterious effect on mineral nutriture of adult men under the conditions of this study.

Serum zinc and urinary zinc excretion of trauma patients

Abstract Eight male patients who had suffered severe trauma were longitudinally monitored for serum zinc, total protein, alkaline phosphatase and urea nitrogen. Daily urinary zinc and creatinine excretion were also measured. The trauma patients were followed from less than 24 hours to 240 hours after admission. The initial mean serum zinc concentration at less than 24 hours after admission was significantly lower (P

Changes in plasma zinc following the ingestion of a zinc multivitamin-mineral supplement with and without breakfast

Abstract The change in concentration of plasma zinc after the oral administration of zinc was used as an index of zinc absorption. The source of zinc was a multivitamin mineral supplement, which contained 25 mg of elemental zinc as zinc oxide. Taking the supplement without breakfast caused a significant increase (P

Zinc hair concentrations and estimated zinc intakes of functionally delayed normal sized and small-for-age children

Abstract The relationship of hair zinc concentrations and dietary zinc intakes to height and weight were compared among three groups of children: small-for-age and normal sized functionally delayed children, and normal sized nondelayed children. There were no statistical differences among the groups for either hair zinc concentrations or the dietary zinc intake. The heterogeneity of hair zinc concentrations in the small-for-age groups prevents making generalizations about the relationship between hair zinc and growth status in functionally delayed children.

Blood zinc, copper, insulin and glucose levels in carbohydrate-sensitive and normal men given a sucrose or invert sugar tolerance test

Abstract Twelve carbohydrate-sensitive and 12 non-carbohydrate sensitive (normal) men were studied. Carbohydrate sensitivity was identified by hyperinsulinemic and normoglycemic responses to a sucrose load. In a blocked split-plot design, fasted subjects were given 2 g/kg body weight of sucrose or invert sugar, and responses of plasma zinc, copper, insulin, and glucose were determined. Erythrocyte zinc and copper also were measured. Blood samples were taken 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 hours after the sugar loads were given. Plasma zinc, copper, insulin, and glucose did not differ significantly between the two sugar loads. Neither did erythrocyte zinc and copper differ significantly between the two load doses. Also, plasma zinc, copper, and glucose, as well as erythrocyte zinc and copper, did not differ significantly between the carbohydrate-sensitive and normal men. Plasma insulin was significantly higher in the carbohydrate-sensitive than the normal men. Plasma zinc did not change significantly between sampling times. Plasma copper declined progressively over the testing period. The greater the elevation of plasma glucose above the fasting level, the greater the plasma copper was depressed. Copper appears to be withdrawn from plasma after sugar loading to facilitate glucose uptake and metabolism.