Zinc anc copper status of Polynesian residents in the Tokelau Islands

Analyses for zinc and copper were performed in samples of serum, hair, toenails, and a 24-hr urine from Polynesian men and women resident in the Tokelau Islands. Selection of subjects was according to rank of systolic blood pressure obtained in a previous survey. The only difference in zinc anc copper values between the men and the women was a higher hair zinc concentration observed for the men. Rank of blood pressure had no influence on the measurements for zinc or copper, although within blood pressure ranks the men again had a higher hair zinc concentration than the women. Analysis of Tokelauan foods showed that most contained very low concentrations of zinc anc also low concentrations of copper. Octopus was one of the few rich sources of zinc and copper. Estimated daily dietary intakes (excluding water) were 4.5 mg Zn and 1.5 mg Cu. The reliability of measurements in serum, urine, hair, and toenails for assessing zinc and copper status is questioned.     

维吾尔族大学生心理状况与发钙镁锌铜的关系

目的探讨维吾尔族大学生心理健康状况及其与体内微量元素的关系。方法选择256名17~25岁的维吾尔族大学生用SCL-90量表测量心理状况,用原子吸收分光光度法测定头发中微量元素钙、镁、铜、锌的含量。结果维吾尔族女大学生的心理健康水平低于男性（P〈0.01）,医学专业学生低于非医学专业学生（P〈0.01）,心理健康水平与头发中4种元素的相关性分析显示：r钙=0.584,r锌=0.437,r镁=0.693,r铜=-0.493（P〈0.01）。结论维吾尔族大学生心理健康水平与钙、镁、锌呈正相关,与铜呈负相关。     

Hair analysis of trace minerals in human subjects as influenced by age, sex, and contraceptive drugs

Eleven male and 16 female residents of Tucson, Arizona volunteered blood and hair samples and dietary information. Hair and blood samples were analyzed for zinc, copper, magnesium, and iron. Dietary records were calculated for the same. Female subjects had a higher mean hair zinc level than male subjects, but serum zinc was not different for the two groups and mean dietary zinc intake was greater for males. The only difference observed with age was a decrease in hair zinc level over 50 years of age. The taking of oral contraceptives resulted in mean hair copper level numerically decreased while serum copper increased. Mean hair zinc increased with contraceptive use and serum zinc decreased. Mean dietary intakes of copper and zinc were not different between nonpregnant control women and women taking oral contraceptives. For human subjects, mineral concentration of hair, serum, and diet do not correlate well, emphasizing that influencing factors and must be considered in interpreting hair analysis results.     

Variation of concentration of heavy metals, calcium and magnesium with sex as determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry

The concentrations of ten elements: Pb, Cd, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ca and Mg in hair, fingernails and toenails of girl and boy students between 20-24 years of age, living in nonindustrialized areas of Rajasthan state in India were analysed by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Adequate quality assurance was ensured by inter-laboratory exerciese, the results of which overall showed good consistency. With the exception of Cu, all metals were found to be significant in fingernails and toenails of boys as compared to boys hair while in case of girl students all metals except zinc in toenails were found to be significant in hair. Using Pearson's Correlation Coefficient we obtained information about high positive and negative correlations among metals in hair, finger nails and toenails of boy and girl students.     

Zinc supplementation during pregnancy: zinc concentration of serum and hair from low-income women of Mexican descent

The effect of zinc supplementation on concentrations of zinc in hair and serum of 213 pregnant Hispanic women attending a clinic in Los Angeles was assessed using a random, double-blind experiment. Both the treatment (T) and control (C) groups received similar vitamin and mineral supplements except that 20 mg zinc was added to the supplements for the treatment group. Nutrient intakes were calculated from 24-h recalls. The initial mean dietary zinc intake of both groups was about 50% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (9 +/- 5 mg). Initially there were no significant differences between the two groups in mean zinc levels in serum (66 +/- 11 micrograms/dl, C, and 65 +/- 12 micrograms/dl, T) or in hair (184 +/- 41 micrograms/g, C, and 175 +/- 38 micrograms/g, T). Zinc supplementation did not alter mean zinc levels in serum or hair but significantly (p less than 0.05) reduced the number of low serum zinc values (less than or equal to 53.3 micrograms/dl) toward the end of pregnancy. Although serum zinc levels do decline in pregnancy, our results suggest that severely depressed levels (less than or equal to 50 to 55 micrograms/dl) indicate inadequate zinc status.     

The effect of growth hormone treatment alone or growth hormone with supplemental zinc on growth rate,serum, and urine zinc and copper concentrations and hair zinc concentration in patients with growth hormone deficiency.

Previous studies suggest that growth hormone (GH) may increase daily zinc requirements to meet the demand of growing bone and to replace increased urinary losses. We tested the hypothesis that zinc or copper availability might be limiting factors in the response of children receiving GH replacement. Ten patients with GH deficiency were followed for GH-induced changes in urine and serum zinc and copper during acute (0.3 IU/kg/day × 5 days) and chronic GH treatment (0.1 IU/kg/tiw). Zinc was measured in hair collected every 3 months. Zinc sulfate (220 mg/day) was given to half the patients during the second year of treatment. There was no evidence of zinc or copper deficiency, and zinc supplements did not venhance growth response to GH during the second year of treatment. We conclude that GH treatment in children does not alter serum or urine zinc or copper or hair zinc, and zinc supplementation does not improve growth in children with GH deficiency.     

The effect of growth hormone treatment alone or growth hormone with supplemental zinc on growth rate, serum, and urine zinc and copper concentrations and hair zinc concentration in patients with growth hormone deficiency

Previous studies suggest that growth hormone (GH) may increase daily zinc requirements to meet the demand of growing bone and to replace increased urinary losses. We tested the hypothesis that zinc or copper availability might be limiting factors in the response of children receiving GH replacement. Ten patients with GH deficiency were followed for GH-induced changes in urine and serum zinc and copper during acute (0.3 IU/kg/day X 5 days) and chronic GH treatment (0.1 IU/kg/tiw). Zinc was measured in hair collected every 3 months. Zinc sulfate (220 mg/day) was given to half the patients during the second year of treatment. There was no evidence of zinc or copper deficiency, and zinc supplements did not venhance growth response to GH during the second year of treatment. We conclude that GH treatment in children does not alter serum or urine zinc or copper or hair zinc, and zinc supplementation does not improve growth in children with GH deficiency.     

吉林地区三个年龄段健康人血清铜及锌铁正常参考值研究

用原子吸收法测定健康小儿、青年、成人三个年龄段共７７６人血清中铜及锌铁的含量。提出了正常参考值范围。统计结果表明,小儿组血清铜、锌,男女间无显著性差异（Ｐ＞ ０．０５）;青年组男女间,血清铜有显著性差异（Ｐ＜ ０．０５）,血清锌、铁均有极显著性差异（Ｐ＜ ０．０１）;成人组血清铜,男女间无显著性差异（Ｐ＞ ０．０５）。     

Reduced serum zinc levels and oral zinc supplementation in geriatric patients

Serum Zinc levels have been measured in 15 male and 64 female patients admitted to geriatric wards from home or other hospital wards. There was no significant difference between the zinc levels in the two sexes. The zinc concentrations were significantly lower in the geriatric patients than in adult patients whose serum zinc levels were measured by the same method. Levels for serum zinc did not differ significantly between the patients who had previously been receiving hospital diets in other hospital wards, and the patients admitted directly from home who had been receiving less nutritious domestic diets. Oral supplementation with zinc salts resulted in a variable response in serum zinc. It is concluded that the low serum zinc concentrations found in geriatric patients are attributable to abnormal cell metabolisms in individual patients rather than to deficient dietary intake of zinc.     

Iron, zinc and copper status in the elderly living in Warsaw district determined by hair analysis

The aim of this study was to assess the iron, zinc and copper status of elderly people using hair trace element levels determined by using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The samples of hair were taken in May-June 1999 from 73 people aged 75-80 years (50 men and 23 women) living in Warsaw district. The mean content of iron was 17.32 +/- 12.38 micrograms/g dry weight, zinc 176.44 +/- 64.33 micrograms/g d.w. and copper 11.25 +/- 6.32 micrograms/g d.w. Although these values were in range of reference intervals almost 40% of population had iron and zinc level below them, and for copper the result was even worse (50% of the elderly people). No significant differences between trace element content in hair of male and female have been observed. However it has revealed a trend that female hair contained less iron and more zinc than male hair. The mean copper level was similar for both sexes. It has been found that subject who had not excluded any food products from their diets had higher hair iron contents than those with some dietetic restrictions.     

An 18-month follow-up study on the influence of smoking on blood antioxidant status of teenage girls in comparison with adult male smokers in Korea

OBJECTIVES: The influence of cigarette smoking on blood antioxidant status in teenage girls with a history of short-term smoking was followed over 18 mo. METHODS: Data obtained from female senior high school students (ages 14 to 18 y) in Korea were compared with data obtained from adult male smokers (ages 36 to 51 y) with a long history of smoking and living in the same geographic areas as the teenage subjects. A smoker was a person who had smoked at least three cigarettes a day for at least 1 y for teenagers (n = 35) or at least 10 cigarettes a day for at least 13 y for adults (n = 20). Serum, urine, and anthropometric data were obtained from teenagers every 6 mo over an 18-mo period. Samples were collected once from adults. Data were analyzed by Student's t test and Fisher's protected least significant difference test for comparing smokers and non-smokers and for analyzing period effects in each group. RESULTS: Serum nicotine and cotinine concentrations were higher in smokers than in non-smokers. Blood pressures were higher in teenage (at 0 and 12 mo) and adult smokers than in non-smokers. Extracellular superoxide dismutase activities and concentrations of serum vitamin C and folate were lower in smokers in the teenage (at 0, 12, or 18 mo) and adult groups. Serum ceruloplasmin activities and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance production were not influenced by smoking. In adults, serum copper concentrations were higher in smokers than in non-smokers. This parameter for teenagers did not change consistently throughout the study. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to adults, cigarette smoking by teenagers has a negative effect on oxidant defense systems.     

The effects of a 2-year switch from a mixed to a lactovegetarian diet on trace element status in hypertensive subjects.

Trace element status of 20 hypertensive subjects (14 women and 6 men, mean age 52 years) was compared to that of normotensives. The changes in trace element status, body weight and blood pressure after a 2-year switch from a mixed to a lactovegetarian diet were also compared between these groups. The concentration of copper in plasma and that of lead in hair were higher in hypertensive subjects than in normotensives, but the concentrations of zinc, magnesium and selenium in plasma, urine and hair were similar to those of normotensives. In the hypertensive subjects, 3 months after the diet shift there was a decrease in the concentrations of zinc in plasma, hair and urine, that of copper in plasma and hair, of magnesium in urine, of selenium in plasma and hair, and an increase in the magnesium content in plasma and hair. Also the concentrations of mercury, lead and cadmium in hair decreased after the diet switch. Among the hypertensives, the relative increase of magnesium in plasma was greater than that of normotensives; their relative decreases of selenium and lead in hair were lower, that of cadmium greater and that of copper in urine was lower. Four years after the start of the experiment when most subjects had resumed a mixed diet, mineral and trace element concentrations in plasma, hair and urine were similar to their baseline levels. Three months after the diet switch the relative decrease in body weight was more marked among hypertensive women (5%) than in female normotensives (3%), but similar among men of both groups (5%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Selenium intake, age, gender, and smoking in relation to indices of selenium status of adults residing in a seleniferous area

Duplicate meals, serum, whole blood, and toenails were collected every 3 mo for 1 y from a group of 44 free-living adults residing in high-selenium areas of South Dakota and Wyoming to assess the relation of selenium intake to indices of selenium status. The average selenium values for the group were as follows: dietary intake, 174 +/- 91 micrograms/d (mean +/- SD), 2.33 +/- 1.08 micrograms/kg body wt; serum, 2.10 +/- 0.38 mumol/L; whole blood, 3.22 +/- 0.79 mumol/L; and toenails, 15.2 +/- 3.0 nmol/g. Selenium intake (micrograms/kg body wt) was strongly correlated (all values, P less than 0.01) with selenium concentration of serum (r = 0.63), whole blood (r = 0.62), and toenails (r = 0.59). Men and women had similar mean values of serum, whole blood, and toenail selenium despite higher selenium intakes in men. Smokers had lower tissue selenium concentrations than did nonsmokers due, at least in part, to lower selenium intake. Age was not associated with tissue selenium content. Of the variables examined selenium intake was clearly the strongest predictor of tissue selenium concentration.     

Effect of zinc status on salivary zinc concentrations in the rat.

Three experiments were done to determine whether salivary zinc concentration is a more sensitive indicator of zinc status than plasma zinc. Weanling male rats fed a low zinc (less than 1 ppm) diet for 5 weeks with or without zinc (100 ppm) in the drinking water had salivary zinc concentration of 0.19, 0.16, and 0.20 microgram/ml for the zinc-deficient, zinc-supplemented restricted-intake, and zinc-supplemented ad libitum-fed groups, respectively. Combined values for male and female rats after 4 weeks of the same treatments in experiment 2 were 0.60, 1.2 and 0.44 microgram/ml. Saliva collected on day 22 of pregnancy contained 0.30 and 0.24 microgram/ml from zinc-supplemented and zinc-deficient rats, respectively. Salivary zinc concentrations in the deficient rats did not differ from those of the zinc-supplemented ad libitum-fed controls in any of the experiments. Salivary zinc concentration in the zinc-supplemented restricted-intake group in experiment 2 was significantly higher than that in the other two groups. Decreases in serum, bone, and fetal zinc concentrations indicated that the rats were definitely zinc-deficient. Since zinc concentration of mixed saliva in the rat was not decreased by even a severe zinc deficiency, salivary zinc does not appear to be as good an indicator of zinc status as plasma zinc.     

Biomarkers of mercury exposure in two eastern Ukraine cities

This study evaluates biomarkers of mercury exposure among residents of Horlivka, a city in eastern Ukraine located in an area with geologic and industrial sources of environmental mercury, and residents of Artemivsk, a nearby comparison city outside the mercury-enriched area. Samples of urine, blood, hair, and nails were collected from study participants, and a questionnaire was administered to obtain data on age, gender, occupational history, smoking, alcohol consumption, fish consumption, tattoos, dental amalgams, home heating system, education, source of drinking water, and family employment in mines. Median biomarker mercury concentrations in Artemivsk were 0.26 μg/g-Cr (urine), 0.92 μg/L (blood), 0.42 μg/g (hair), 0.11 μg/g (toenails), and 0.09 μg/g (fingernails); median concentrations in Horlivka were 0.15 μg/g-Cr (urine), 1.01 μg/L (blood), 0.14 μg/g (hair), 0.31 μg/g (toenails), and 0.31 μg/g (fingernails). Biomarkers of mercury exposure for study participants from Horlivka and Artemivsk are low in comparison with occupationally exposed workers at a mercury recycling facility in Horlivka and in comparison with exposures known to be associated with clinical effects. Blood and urinary mercury did not suggest a higher mercury exposure among Horlivka residents as compared with Artemivsk; however, three individuals living in the immediate vicinity of the mercury mines had elevated blood and urinary mercury, relative to overall results for either city. For a limited number of residents from Horlivka (N = 7) and Artemivsk (N = 4), environmental samples (vacuum cleaner dust, dust wipes, soil) were collected from their residences. Mercury concentrations in vacuum cleaner dust and soil were good predictors of blood and urinary mercury.     

278例维吾尔族大学生抑郁状况与发中微量元素的关系

目的探讨维吾尔族大学生抑郁状况分布特点,并分析其与发中微量元素的关系。方法选取278名18~26岁维吾尔族大学生采用SDS(抑郁自评量表)量表调查其抑郁状况,用火焰原子吸收分光光度法测量其发中钙、镁、铜、锌的含量。结果维吾尔族女大学生抑郁症状标准分显著高于男生(P0.01),医学专业学生抑郁症状标准分显著高于非医学专业学生(P0.01)。维吾尔族女大学生头发中钙、锌、镁元素含量显著低于男生(P0.01),发铜含量显著高于男性(P0.01)。抑郁组发钙、锌、镁元素含量显著低于非抑郁组(P0.01)。发中四种微量元素与抑郁症之间的相关分析表明:r钙=-0.49,r镁=-0.38,r锌=-0.31(P均0.05),r铜=0.007(P0.05)。结论维吾尔族大学生抑郁水平与发中钙、镁、锌含量呈负相关,与发铜含量之间无线性关系。     

ASSESSMENT OF ZINC NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF PELLAGRA PATIENTS

The objective of the present study was to assess zinc nutritionalstatus in alcoholic patients with pellagra using plasma, hair,urine and nail zinc levels, as well as the zinc tolerance test.The study was conducted on 81 patients, 73 males and eight females.Zinc parameters were compared with those of 84 individuals withno apparent disease aged 23–45 years. Plasma zinc levelswere lower in patients with pellagra than in the controls (P< 0.01). The results of the zinc tolerance test showed that:(1) basal zinc levels were 69.7 ± 16.8 µg/100 mlin pellagrins and 82.3 ± 34.0 µg/100 ml in thecontrols (P < 0.01); (2) after 1 h the increase in plasmalevels was similar in the pellagrin and control groups; (3)during the second hour the increase was more marked in the controls(P < 0.01), and the same was observed during the third andfourth hours (P < 0.05). Urinary zinc excretion (mg/24 h)was higher in pellagrins (P < 0.01). Zinc concentration inhair and toenails did not differ between pellagrins and controls.We conclude that pellagrins present zinc deficiency as demonstratedby plasma and urine zinc levels and by their abnormal responseto the zinc tolerance test. We suggest that hair and nail zinclevels should not be used to assess zinc nutritional statusin patients with pellagra.     

Risk of zinc, iodine and other micronutrient deficiencies among school children in North East Thailand

INTRODUCTION: Micronutrient deficiencies during childhood can contribute to impairments in growth, immune competence, and mental and physical development, and the coexistence of several such deficiencies can adversely affect the efficacy of single micronutrient interventions. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of zinc and iodine deficiency and their interrelationships with vitamin A deficiency and anemia and associations with socio-economic status, hemoglobin type, and anthropometry in a cross-sectional study. SETTING: A total of 10 primary schools in North East Thailand. METHODS: Non-fasting venipuncture blood samples and casual urine samples were collected from 567 children aged 6-13 years. Anthropometric measures and serum zinc, albumin, C-reactive protein and urinary iodine, are reported here and integrated with published data on vitamin A, anemia, and socio-economic status. RESULTS: Of the children, 57% had low serum zinc and 83% had urinary iodine levels below the 100 microg/l cutoff. Suboptimal serum zinc and urinary iodine concentrations may result from low intakes of zinc and iodized salt. Significant risk factors for low serum zinc were serum retinol <1.05 micromol/l and being male. Those for urinary iodine <100 microg/l were height-for-age score>median and being female. For serum retinol <1.05 micromol/l, risk factors were low hemoglobin, low serum zinc, and <9 years, and for low hemoglobin indicative of anemia risk factors were <9 years, AE hemoglobinopathy, and serum retinol <1.05 micromol/l. Of the children, 60% were at risk of two or more coexisting micronutrient deficiencies, most commonly suboptimal urinary iodine and low serum zinc. CONCLUSION: The findings emphasize the need for multimicronutrient interventions in North East Thailand.     

老年人头发中锌铜铁钙与骨密度的关系

〔目的〕 探讨头发中无机盐含量与防治老年骨质疏松的措施。〔方法〕 以整群抽样方法对两所高校、华北地质局离退休职工及洪门乡四个自然村６０岁以上老人４７３例用ＢＨ－６０１２二维扫描单光子骨密度仪测定了骨密度水平,用原子吸收分光光度法检测了头发中锌、铜、铁、钙。〔结果〕 女性ＢＭＣ和ＢＭＤ显著低于男性,随着年龄的增加ＢＭＣ和ＢＭＤ显著下降,７０岁组ＢＭＣ和ＢＭＤ显著低于６０岁组,女性发锌、发钙含量明显低于男性,铜／锌值明显高于男性,而发铁、发铜含量男女差别无显著性。〔结论〕 锌、铜、钙与骨密度存在一定的关系,可能与骨的吸收和形成有关。     

Hair chromium as an index of chromium exposure of tannery workers

The use of hair chromium (Cr) concentrations as an index of Cr exposure of tannery workers was investigated. As has been shown earlier, Cr from Cr III compounds used in the leather tanning industry is absorbed because concentrations of Cr in serum and urine of tannery workers are significantly increased compared with corresponding concentrations for unexposed controls. Hair samples were collected from 71 male tannery workers from four southern Ontario tanneries and from 53 male controls not exposed to Cr in the workplace. Subjects were matched for age, race, and socioeconomic status. Hair samples were washed, ashed in a low temperature asher, and analysed by flameless atomic absorption. The median hair Cr concentrations for the tannery workers (551 ng/g) was significantly higher (p = 0.0001) than for the controls (123 ng/g). For the tannery workers, hair Cr concentrations were positively and significantly correlated with serum Cr (r = 0.52, p less than 0.01) and with the preshift and postshift urinary Cr/creatinine ratios (r = 0.43, p less than 0.01; r = 0.64, p less than 0.01, respectively). These data indicate that trivalent Cr absorbed from leather tanning compounds results in raised concentrations of Cr in hair and that hair Cr concentrations may be used as an index of industrial Cr exposure.