A pilot study on the relationship between zinc deficiency and anthropometric and metabolic parameters in obese adults in Serbia.

Obesity alters lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, which has an impact on micronutrient status. Zinc affects lipid and glucose metabolism while also acting as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant in various physiological processes. It has a direct effect on the insulin-signaling system and acts as an insulin mimic. In this study we predicted that zinc deficiency in obese Serbian adults affects anthropometric parameters, lipid and glucose metabolic profiles, inflammation, and atherosclerotic markers. We conducted a case-control study with 31 adult obese individuals and 31 controls. Different methods were used to determine the values of anthropometric and biochemical parameters. Obese participants had significantly decreased serum zinc levels compared to controls (p < .01). In obese subjects, there is a significant negative correlation between zinc and body weight (ρ = -0.324, p < .05), body mass index (ρ = -0.351, p < .05), body fat mass (%) (ρ = -0.431, p = .006), and triglycerides (ρ = -0.317, p < .05), as well as a positive correlation between zinc and high-density lipoproteins (ρ = +0.453, p < .01) and lipoprotein (a) (ρ = +0.417, p < .01). Atherosclerotic index and lipoprotein (a) were significantly related to zinc (p = .0022 and p = .0016, respectively) independently of each other in obese subjects. Our results suggest that the determination of zinc levels in obese persons and their correlation with anthropometric and metabolic parameters could help in the identification of individuals at higher risk for cardiovascular disease.