Objective
Intake of protective nutritional components, including zinc, is critical for older people. Zinc enrichment may be beneficial for health, but excess zinc may interact with Fe and Cu metabolism. We propose to determine the response to nutritional supplementation of zinc in cohorts of late middle-aged and older men and women from different European countries. Volunteers will receive a placebo or two levels of zinc supplement for 6 months. Effects of zinc supplementation on relevant micronutrient status and intestinal absorption of zinc will be evaluated. Cognitive function and psychological and physiological factors will be monitored. Beneficial effects and possible adverse effects, on surrogate biomarkers of health and physiological factors, will be detonated at baseline, 3 and 6 months of zinc supplementation. This proposal will provide a scientific basis for formulation of public health recommendations on dietary zinc intake in ageing Europeans.