Immune system status, select nutrient intakes, and micronutrient status in young women with a chronic suboptimal energy intake

Little is known regarding the nutrition and health implications of chronic dieting in college-women. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine nutrient intakes, zinc status, and immune system status in 19-24 year-old college women consuming different energy intakes. A suboptimal group (SG) (n=9), with a chronic suboptimal energy intake of ≤70% of the RDA, was matched for partial energy output to a control group (CG) (n=9), with a chronic optimal energy intake of ≥90% of the RDA. Zinc status was assessed using plasma zinc, red blood cell (RBC) zinc, and RBC fragility. Immune system status was assessed using IgG, IgM, C3, % T cell, and % lymphocyte. The SG consumed significantly lower intakes of macronutrients and several micronutrients than the CG (p<.05). Nutrient intakes in the SG, ≤70% of the RDA, were energy, carbohydrate, fat, vitamin D, calcium, iron, zinc, and copper; but only vitamin D and zinc in the CG. Zinc status and immune system status were not significantly different between the two groups (p>.05). No correlations were found between zinc intake and the zinc status markers, suggesting that the markers were not sensitive indicators. In the SG only, significant positive correlations were found between intakes of energy, macronutrients, and zinc, and one or more of the immune components (p<.05). These findings suggest that although the apparent immune system status was not altered by a suboptimal energy intake, in an inadequate energy intake, immune system status reflected nutrient intakes.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise

Department dc:contributor.department

Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1996

Author dc:creator

• Wagner, Tracey L.

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Thomas, Elizabeth

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Davis, Shala
• Elgert, Klaus

• college women
• dieting
• energy intake
• zinc
• immunity

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

etd-08292008-063316

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/44486