ZINC LEVELS OF HOSPITALIZED ELDERLY
Date
1982
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ORCID
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Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
Zinc nutriture was evaluated in 99 elderly patients of a Geriatric Assessment Unit. Mean (-+-SD) plasma zinc concentration was 72+16 µg/100 ml as determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Although 67% of the group had plasma zinc levels in the deficient range, only 3 patients had values below the normal range for erythrocyte zinc and none fell below the reference range for urinary zinc/24 hours or urinary zinc/ creatinine ratio. Mean (+SD) values for the other parameters of zinc status were 1.27+0.26 µg/109 rbc for erythrocyte zinc, 285+217 µg/24 hours for urinary zinc, and 588+309 µg/g for the urinary zinc/creatinine ratio. Serum alkaline phosphatase and serum lactic dehydrogenase activities were not useful in the evaluation of zinc nutriture as changes in their levels are not specific to zinc status. Based on food frequency questionnaire scores, 46% had adequate and 54% inadequate dietary intakes. Twenty percent were receiving an inadequate intake of meat products, suggesting that the majority- (80%) were ingesting an adequate supply of zinc-rich foods. The mean (+SD) plasma copper concentration of 139+40 ug/100 ml is higher than that of younger adults. An altered copper:zinc ratio may be due to the high incidence of disease in this elderly group. Plasma zinc and erythrocyte zinc relationships were tested with multiple linear regression analysis. Age, plasma copper, serum albumin, and meat intake contributed to the variability in plasma
zinc (P< 0.05). The problem of multicollinearity and incomplete data collection on many subjects hindered the testing of these variables. Although erythrocyte zinc concentrations were related to the presence of infection in some patients (P <0.05), the same problems limited the interpretation of this finding. The results of the present study indicate that patients admitted to the Geriatric Assessment Unit generally have adequate zinc status. This finding should be confirmed in other elderly groups with more sensitive measures of zinc nutriture.
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Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Home Economics