Publications by authors named "Thomas P Croxford"
Article Synopsis
- Marginal zinc (Zn) deficiency is common in women of reproductive age, but reliable methods to assess Zn status are lacking, impacting understanding of maternal Zn deficiency's effects.
- A study on mice showed that those fed a marginal Zn diet had higher plasma Zn but lower milk Zn levels, along with altered milk composition, suggesting compromised mammary function.
- Findings indicate that lactating women with inadequate Zn may produce less and lower quality milk, potentially affecting their infant's nutrition.
The mammary epithelial cell transitions from a non-secreting to a terminally differentiated, secreting cell during lactation. Zinc (Zn) is a key modulator of phenotypic transition as it regulates over 300 biological functions including transcription, translation, energy transformation, intracellular signaling, and apoptosis. In addition, Zn must be redirected from normal cellular functions into the secretory compartment, as many components of the secretory system are Zn-dependent and an extraordinary amount of Zn is secreted (1-3 mg Zn/day) into milk.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMale infertility accounts for ~40% of cases of failure to conceive. Testes have a strict zinc (Zn) requirement and severe Zn deficiency compromises spermatogenesis, sperm viability, and motility, compromising fertility in men. Despite the high prevalence of marginal Zn deficiency in humans, less emphasis has been placed on understanding the consequences on male reproduction.
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