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Abstract
This study tested if zinc supplementation can induce changes in serum protein levels. Hypothesis: Early pubertal, Caucasian girls taking 24 mg oral zinc sulfate for 30 days have different contents of serum proteins than matched controls taking a placebo. Twelve, healthy, well-nourished girls, ages 9-11, were selected from an ongoing, randomized, placebo-controlled trial and matched based on maturity offset (years to peak height velocity), body weight (kg), and Tanner stage of maturation. High abundance proteins were removed using Seppro IgY 14 Spin Columns. Two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry (MS) were used to identify changes in serum proteins among baseline and four-week samples. Ten proteins were differentially expressed in the zinc supplementation group. These proteins may serve as biomarkers for zinc status in humans. Future research is necessary to validate these candidate biomarkers and to characterize their roles in zinc metabolism and responses to zinc supplementation.