[Prevalence of zinc and copper deficiencies in older subjects living in Metropolitan Santiago]

Rev Med Chil. 2011 Mar;139(3):283-9. Epub 2011 Aug 25.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Background: Older subjects have a high risk of developing zinc and copper deficiencies.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of copper and zinc deficiencies in adults aged over 60 years, living in Metropolitan Santiago.

Subjects and methods: Analyses were performed using anonymous serum samples from older subjects living in Santiago, Chile, who participated in the multicenter project SABE. Of the studied subjects, 49.3% had enough left over serum to measure serum zinc and copper concentrations by atomic absorption spectrometry.

Results: A total of 444 men and 198 women were studied. A positive correlation between serum zinc and copper was found in both women (r = 0.44, p < 0.001) and men (r = 0.48, p < 0.001). There were no differences in serum zinc concentration by sex and age. The prevalence of subnormal serum zinc valúes was 66.9% in women and 66.7% in men. Women had a significantly higher serum copper valúes than men (p < 0.02) and there were no differences by age. Prevalence of subnormal serum copper valúes was higher in women than in men (32.9 and 23.7% respectively, p < 0.05). Women had significantly higher copper I zinc serum ratio than men (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Older people living in Metropolitan Santiago have a high prevalence of copper and zinc deficiencies.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Chile / epidemiology
  • Cities / epidemiology
  • Copper / blood
  • Copper / deficiency*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Spectrophotometry, Atomic
  • Urban Population
  • Zinc / blood
  • Zinc / deficiency*

Substances

  • Copper
  • Zinc