Copper and zinc levels in "healthy" and "sick" elderly

Area of Science:

• Geriatric medicine
• Clinical chemistry
• Nutritional science

Background:

• Serum copper, ceruloplasmin, and zinc exhibit wider ranges in healthy elderly individuals compared to standard laboratory reference ranges.
• These trace elements can function as acute-phase reactants, with levels altered by conditions such as vascular disease, inflammation, and malignancy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the reference ranges of serum copper, ceruloplasmin, and zinc in the elderly population.
• To evaluate the association of these trace elements with specific age-related diseases, including osteoporosis and dementia.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of serum copper, ceruloplasmin, and zinc levels in a cohort of elderly individuals.
• Comparison of findings with established laboratory ranges and disease-specific data.

Main Results:

• The study confirmed wider reference ranges for serum copper, ceruloplasmin, and zinc in healthy elderly subjects.
• No significant evidence of copper deficiency was observed in patients with osteoporosis.
• No evidence of zinc deficiency was found in patients diagnosed with dementia.

Conclusions:

• Established laboratory ranges may not fully encompass the physiological variations of serum copper, ceruloplasmin, and zinc in the elderly.
• The study did not support previous reports of copper deficiency in osteoporosis or zinc deficiency in dementia within the studied population.