Trace element studies on Karachi populations, Part 1: Normal ranges for blood copper, zinc and magnesium for adults

Normal ranges in whole blood were established for copper, zinc and magnesium for a Karachi population. For copper, it is 71 - 116 micrograms/dl (mean 93.5), there being no significant difference between the sexes; for zinc, males 602.5 - 850 micrograms/dl (mean 726), females 519 - 853 (686), P less than 0.01 for males + females 563 - 859.5 (711); and for magnesium, males 2.97 - 4.80 micrograms/dl (mean 3.78), females 2.65 - 4.66 (3.50), 0.05 greater than P greater than 0.01; for males + females 2.75 - 4.80 (3.61). There were weak correlations only between pairs of blood metal levels for the population.