Zinc nutrition and growth in a childhood population.

Plasma zinc concentrations are a useful indicator of the zinc nutritional status in humans. This study was designed to evaluate plasma zinc levels in a population stressed by a low-income diet and rapid growth. Plasma zinc concentrations of an inner city childhood population are analyzed by polynominal regression analysis. The resultant age-related plasma zinc curves for male and female subjects are markedly different. Concentrations are lowest during the years of rapid growth, infancy and puberty. The growth velocities (growth indices) of these two populations are calculated and mirror the variation of plasma zinc concentrations. The data suggest that lowered plasma zinc concentrations result from inadequate zinc nutrition during periods of rapid growth.