Zinc Supplements Are Insufficient in Boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

A clinical trial investigating oral zinc supplementation in boys Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) found that the treatment did not significantly improve basic health measures.¹

Posted in nutrientsThe study focused on the role of zinc in muscle health and cellular function and aimed to evaluate changes in bioelectrical impedance parameters, which are indicators of muscle integrity, body composition and hydration. Despite its potential, zinc supplementation has shown limited benefits, raising concerns about the adequacy of current nutritional recommendations for DMD patients.

Researchers found that about 30% of the 33 boys in the study, ages 5 to 24, had zinc levels below the healthy range at baseline, indicating a risk of zinc deficiency. While zinc supplementation slightly reduced the percentage of boys with low zinc levels to 20% after 4 months of supplementation, this change was not statistically significant. There were also no statistically significant changes in measures of muscle function or hydration, such as phase angle (PA) and bioelectric impedance vector analysis (BIVA), which monitor cellular health and body composition.

“DMD is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes permanent changes in muscle cell membranes,” the study authors said, pointing to the unique challenges of treating children with DMD. “Therefore, zinc supplementation may not be sufficient to change or improve the measured parameters.”

Muscle damage caused by DMD may limit the effectiveness of zinc. | Image credit: Celt Studio –stock.adobe.com

Zinc plays a crucial role in protecting cell membranes and supporting muscle function. But researchers found that muscle damage caused by DMD may limit the effectiveness of zinc. PA and BIVA results showed that muscle health declines with age, and the study confirmed that these measures were not improved by zinc supplementation. The lack of change in these parameters suggests that the progressive muscle deterioration of DMD requires more targeted interventions.

Zinc is an essential trace mineral that is required in small amounts but is vital to nearly 100 enzymes that support critical body functions including cell growth, DNA formation, tissue repair and immune function.² It plays an important role during periods of rapid growth such as childhood, adolescence and pregnancy, when adequate zinc intake is necessary for healthy development. The recommended daily amount of zinc in adults is generally 11 mg per day for men and 8 mg per day for women, and the upper limit is 40 mg per day.³ The recommended dose ranges from 3 to 8 mg for children and 9 to 11 mg for teenagers, depending on age.

“Given inflammation and loss of lean mass in DMD, it is likely that higher than recommended doses for zinc will be required to achieve an effect on the measured parameters,” the study authors said.¹

Beyond the limited effectiveness of zinc supplements, the study also pointed to the usefulness of bioelectrical impedance measurements such as PA and BIVA in monitoring the health of patients with DMD. These tools can help track changes in body composition and detect worsening muscle wasting, providing insight into disease progression and potential interventions.

The authors noted that future studies should include a more representative sample with a longer study period to determine the generalizability of these findings.

“Given the functions of zinc and the pathophysiology of DMD, it is important to implement strategies to prevent or treat zinc deficiency in this population,” the authors added. “Further studies investigating oral zinc supplementation at larger and safer doses are needed.”

References

1. Vermeulen-Serpa KM, Lopes MMGD, Alves CX, et al. Effect of oral zinc supplementation on phase angle and bioelectric impedance vector analysis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: a non-randomized clinical trial. nutrients. 2024;16(19):3299. doi:10.3390/nu16193299
2. Zinc. Nutrition Source. Updated March 2023. Access date: 25 October 2024. https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/zinc/
3. Zinc. HHS. 4 October 2022. Access date: 25 October 2024.