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

Healthy elderly as a group have a wider range for serum copper, ceruloplasmin, and serum zinc than the adjusted ranges for the laboratory. In disease serum copper and/or ceruloplasmin act as acute-phase reactants in vascular disease, inflammation, and malignancy. Serum zinc values likewise are affected by the presence of inflammation and malignancy. The reported low level of copper in patients with osteoporosis was not confirmed by the present study. Neither was there any evidence found for zinc deficiency in patients with dementia.