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Zinc Absorption Estimated by Fecal Monitoring of Zinc Stable Isotopes Validated by Comparison with Whole-Body Retention of Zinc Radioisotopes in Humans¹

Ellen Knudsen, Mikael Jensen^*, Per Solgaard, Sven S. Sørensen^* and Brittmarie Sandström²

Research Department of Human Nutrition, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, DK-1958 Frederiksberg, Denmark ^* Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, State University Hospital, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark Environmental Science and Technology Department, RISØ National Laboratory, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark

Knowledge about zinc availability from human diets is limited due to methodological difficulties. Recently developed stable isotope techniques for estimating dietary zinc abosrption were compared with radioisotope techniques in five men and three women. Stable and radioactive zinc isotopes were simultaneously administered. Fecal excretion of the isotopes as well as whole-body retention of the radioactive zinc isotope was monitored. Concentration of stable zinc isotope label in fecal samples was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry by fully quantitative measurements and from inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry isotope ratios combined with analysis of total zinc content using atomic absorption spectrometry. Zinc absorption estimated from whole-body retention was 27 ± 6% ( ± SD), estimated zinc absorption obtained by fecal monitoring of radioisotope was 26 ± 9%, and the two stable zinc measurements resulted in values of 29 ± 12 and 33 ± 12%, respectively. There was no signfiicant difference in zinc absorption estimated from whole-body retention and with the fecal monitoring methods. Recovered stable zinc isotope label was significantly lower than recovered radiolsotope. For individual fecal samples, systematic differences of 16% and 12%, respectively (P < 0.05), between the radioisotope recovery and the recovery of stable isotopes with the two methods for measurement was observed. The stable zinc isotope technique for measurement of zinc absorption resulted in mean results similar to those of the radioisotope technique, but with a larger variation in the measurements.

KEY WORDS: • absorption • humans • zinc • radioisotopes • stable isotopes

¹ The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 USC section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

² To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Manuscript received 11 July 1994. Revision accepted 1 November 1994.

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