Human zinc (Zn) deficiency is prevalent in areas where cereals dominate in the diet. Soil Zn application may enhance the concentration of Zn in wheat grains and dietary Zn intake by target populations. However, its value has never been practically quantified in Zn nutrition of any population group. We, therefore, studied farming families in rural Punjab (Pakistan). The selected adults (n = 156, grouped based on age and gender) were Zn undernourished (as assessed by estimated Zn bioavailability in their diet) and their plasma Zn levels also indicated Zn deficiency. On average, wheat consumption by the adults contributed about 68% in total Zn and 93% in total phytate intakes. Soil Zn application to wheat fields significantly increased Zn and decreased phytate concentration in chapati (flatbread made of whole-wheat flour). From dietary phytate intakes by the adults, we calculated desired chapati Zn concentration and dietary Zn intake that would meet their daily Zn requirement. The physiological Zn requirements of adult women and men were estimated to be achieved by intake of, respectively, 10.4-15.3 mg Zn d-1 (37-46 mg Zn kg-1 in chapati) and 14.4-23.3 mg Zn d-1 (41-52 mg Zn kg-1 in chapati). It was evident that soil Zn application aiming at optimum grain yield of wheat significantly improved Zn nutrition of the studied adults, but not up to desired levels. High Zn applications (via soil and/or foliage) to wheat and growing cultivars specifically selected for Zn biofortification may be needed to optimise Zn nutrition in rural Pakistan.

中文翻译：

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食用来自对照或锌处理田的小麦的农村成年人的锌状况及其需求。

人类锌 (Zn) 缺乏症在以谷物为主的饮食地区普遍存在。土壤施锌可能会提高小麦籽粒中锌的浓度和目标人群的膳食锌摄入量。然而，其价值从未在任何人群的锌营养中得到实际量化。因此，我们研究了旁遮普（巴基斯坦）农村地区的农户。选定的成年人（n = 156，根据年龄和性别分组）是锌营养不良（根据他们饮食中估计的锌生物利用度评估），他们的血浆锌水平也表明锌缺乏。平均而言，成年人摄入的小麦占总锌摄入量的 68% 和总植酸盐摄入量的 93%。土壤锌在麦田中的应用显着增加了锌并降低了薄饼（由全麦面粉制成的大饼）中的植酸盐浓度。从成年人的膳食植酸盐摄入量中，我们计算了所需的薄饼锌浓度和满足其每日锌需求量的膳食锌摄入量。估计成年女性和男性的生理锌需求量分别通过摄入 10.4-15.3 mg Zn d-1（37-46 mg Zn kg-1 in chapati）和 14.4-23.3 mg Zn d-1（ 41-52 mg Zn kg-1 在薄饼中）。很明显，以小麦最佳谷物产量为目标的土壤锌施用显着改善了所研究成虫的锌营养，但未达到预期水平。为优化巴基斯坦农村的锌营养，可能需要向小麦和专门选择用于锌生物强化的栽培品种高锌应用（通过土壤和/或叶子）。估计成年女性和男性的生理锌需求量分别通过摄入 10.4-15.3 mg Zn d-1（37-46 mg Zn kg-1 in chapati）和 14.4-23.3 mg Zn d-1（ 41-52 mg Zn kg-1 在薄饼中）。很明显，以小麦最佳谷物产量为目标的土壤锌施用显着改善了所研究成虫的锌营养，但未达到预期水平。为优化巴基斯坦农村的锌营养，可能需要向小麦和专门选择用于锌生物强化的栽培品种高锌应用（通过土壤和/或叶子）。估计成年女性和男性的生理锌需求量分别通过摄入 10.4-15.3 mg Zn d-1（37-46 mg Zn kg-1 in chapati）和 14.4-23.3 mg Zn d-1（ 41-52 mg Zn kg-1 在薄饼中）。很明显，以小麦最佳谷物产量为目标的土壤锌施用显着改善了所研究成虫的锌营养，但未达到预期水平。为优化巴基斯坦农村的锌营养，可能需要向小麦和专门选择用于锌生物强化的栽培品种高锌应用（通过土壤和/或叶子）。很明显，以小麦最佳谷物产量为目标的土壤锌施用显着改善了所研究成虫的锌营养，但未达到预期水平。为优化巴基斯坦农村的锌营养，可能需要向小麦和专门选择用于锌生物强化的栽培品种高锌应用（通过土壤和/或叶子）。很明显，以小麦最佳谷物产量为目标的土壤锌施用显着改善了所研究成虫的锌营养，但未达到预期水平。为优化巴基斯坦农村的锌营养，可能需要对小麦和专门选择用于锌生物强化的栽培品种进行高锌应用（通过土壤和/或叶子）。