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Effect of Low Zinc Intakes on Basal Metabolic Rate, Thyroid Hormones and Protein Utilization in Adult Men¹

Department of Nutritional Science, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720

Basal metabolic rate (BMR), thyroid hormones and protein utilization were measured in six young men participating in a 75-d metabolic study of low zinc intakes. During metabolic period (MP) 1 (12 d) and MP 3 (9 d) the subjects received 16.5 mg Zn/d. During MP 2 (54 d) they received 5.5 mg Zn/d. Nitrogen intake averaged 12.6 g/d. Mean BMR significantly decreased from 1.00 ± 0.06 to 0.91 ± 0.05 kcal/(kg·h) (mean ± SD) with the low zinc diet and tended to increase during period 3. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyroxine (T₄) and free T₄ tended to decrease during the low zinc period and to increase when the adequate zinc diet was fed; only the decrease in free T₄ was significant at P < 0.05, however. Among the measures of protein status, urinary urea excretion, serum prealbumin, albumin and retinol-binding protein levels all decreased significantly during the low zinc period. The results suggest that low zinc intakes may be associated with decreases in BMR. In addition, decreases in thyroid hormone levels and alterations in protein utilization may occur.

KEY WORDS: • zinc • basal metabolic rate • thyroid hormones • protein utilization

¹ Research supported by National Institutes of Health grant AM-10202.

Manuscript received 24 September 1985. Revision accepted 7 February 1986.

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