Zinc nutritional status influences ZnT1 and ZIP4 gene expression in children with a high risk of zinc deficiency

[Display omitted] •Zinc deficiency did not influence the height-for-age or BMI-for-age in children.•Dietary zinc, phytate and phytate:zinc molar ratio is similar between children with or without zinc deficiency.•Dietary zinc intake did not influence the ZnT1 and ZIP4 whole blood mRNA.•ZnT1 mRNA expression in whole blood is higher among children with plasma zinc deficiency.•ZIP4 mRNA expression in whole blood is lower among children with plasma zinc deficiency. Subclinical deficiency of zinc is associated with impairment of immune system function, growth, and cognitive development in children. Although plasma zinc is the best available biomarker of the risk of zinc deficiency in populations, its sensitivity for early detection of deficiency is limited. Therefore, we aimed to investigate zinc deficiency among preschool children and its relationship with whole blood gene expression of zinc transporters ZIP4 and ZnT1. This cross-sectional study included 139 children aged 32–76 months enrolled in philanthropic day-care centers. We performed an anthropometric evaluation, weighed food record and dietary record for dietary assessment, blood sample collection for zinc, and whole blood gene expression analyses of ZnT1 (SLC30A1) and ZIP4 (SLC39A4). Zinc deficiency was observed in 26.6 % of the children despite adequate zinc intake and a phytate:zinc molar ratio < 18. Usual zinc intake did not affect whole blood gene expression of zinc transporters, but zinc status influenced ZnT1 and ZIP4 whole blood mRNA. Children with zinc deficiency exhibited 37.1 % higher ZnT1 expression and 45.3 % lower ZIP4 expression than children with adequate zinc (p