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.
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.
Authors: Migdalia Caridad Arazo-Rusindo; Rommy N Zúñiga; Pablo Cortés-Segovia; Sergio Benavides-Valenzuela; Francisco Pérez-Bravo; Oscar Castillo-Valenzuela; María Salomé Mariotti-Celis Journal: Nutrients Date: 2021-12-21 Impact factor: 5.717