Revised D-A-CH-reference values for the intake of zinc

Hajo Haase; Sabine Ellinger; Jakob Linseisen; Monika Neuhäuser-Berthold; Margrit Richter; German Nutrition Society (DGE)

doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2020.126536

Revised D-A-CH-reference values for the intake of zinc

J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2020 Apr 23:61:126536. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2020.126536. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Hajo Haase¹, Sabine Ellinger², Jakob Linseisen³, Monika Neuhäuser-Berthold⁴, Margrit Richter⁵; German Nutrition Society (DGE)

Affiliations

¹ Technische Universität Berlin, Chair of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Straße des 17. Juni 135, D-10623 Berlin, Germany.
² Faculty of Food, Nutrition and Hospitality Sciences, Hochschule Niederrhein, University of Applied Sciences Moenchengladbach, Rheydter Str. 277, D-41065 Moenchengladbach, Germany.
³ Chair of Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, at UNIKA-T, Neusaesser Straße 47, D-86156 Augsburg, Germany; Clinical Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München (HMGU), Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
⁴ Institute of Nutritional Science, Justus Liebig University, Goethestrasse 55, D-35390 Giessen, Germany.
⁵ German Nutrition Society (DGE), Godesberger Allee 18, D-53175 Bonn, Germany. Electronic address: corresponding_author@dge.de.

PMID: 32380426
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2020.126536

Abstract

Background: The Nutrition Societies of Germany, Austria and Switzerland as the joint editors of the 'D-A-CH reference values for nutrient intake' have revised the reference values for zinc in July 2019.

Methods: For infants aged 0 to under 4 months, an estimated value was set based on the zinc intake via breast feeding. For all other age groups, the reference values were calculated using the factorial method considering endogenous zinc losses via intestinal losses, urine, faeces, skin and sweat, semen in men and the additional zinc requirements to build up body weight in children and adolescents as well as in pregnant women. Due to the strong influence of phytate intake on zinc absorption, the recommendations for the intake of zinc for adults are derived depending on low (0.5 mmol/day, corresponding to 330 mg/day), moderate (1.0 mmol/day, corresponding to 660 mg/day) and high (1.5 mmol/day, corresponding to 990 mg/day) phytate intake. The reference values for lactating women take into account the zinc loss via breast milk.

Results and conclusion: For adults, pregnant and lactating women, the recommended intake values for zinc range from 7 mg/day to 16 mg/day, depending on sex and dietary phytate intake.

Keywords: Dietary reference value; Human nutrition; Phytate; Recommended intake; Zinc.

Publication types

Review