[Evaluation of plasma zinc levels in patients with Down syndrome]

Using the atomic absorption spectroscopy technique, the plasma concentrations of zinc were measured in 32 patients with Down's syndrome (DS) and in 44 healthy controls (C). An obvious and significant decrease in the levels of this element was observed in the trisomic subjects (DS:124.5 +/- 21.7 micrograms/dl; C:150.3 +/- 28 micrograms/dl). Additionally, there seemed to be no relationship or dependence between this observation and the age or the institutionalization of these patients. From a detailed analysis of the population studied, it is inferred that together with personal antecedents of repeated infections, there is always a deficit in this element. It is possible that this deficiency might be due to an activation of the zinc dependent enzymatic systems involved in the immune response.