| Abstract: | PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine differences in concentration of trace elements in serum between healthy free-living and hospitalized oldest-old people aged > or = 85 years. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Subjects were 33 healthy free-living oldest-olds (18 men, 15 women, aged 85-91 years, mean age: 87.3 +/- 1.7 years) selected at annual health examination and 40 hospitalized oldest-olds (14 men, 26 women, aged 85-92 years, mean age: 87.8 +/- 2.2 years). The serum concentrations of managanese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and phosphorus (P) (microgram/ml) were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and colorimetric method. Differences between groups for serum concentration of trace elements were assessed with the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were calculated with reference to clinical examination data in the two groups. RESULTS: 1) The concentrations of Ca, Mg, P and Zn were significantly higher in the healthy free-living than in the hospitalized, especially in the P and Zn case. The Cu/Zn ratio was significantly lower in the healthy free-living. 2) The Zn concentration was positively correlated with the Ca concentration, and the P concentration with the total cholesterol level in both groups. Zn was one of the elements demonstrating good correlations with other parameter. Especially in the healthy free-living, the Zn concentration was high positively associated with the Fe concentration. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the serum concentrations of trace elements in the healthy free-living are higher than in the hospitalized oldest-old, especially in the P and Zn case. |
