Serum zinc concentration during childhood

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Pediatrics
• Medical Diagnostics

Background:

• Zinc is essential for numerous biological processes.
• Accurate reference values for serum zinc are crucial for diagnosing zinc deficiency, especially in children.
• Previous studies have indicated age-related variations in zinc levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish reliable serum zinc reference values across different age groups.
• To aid in the diagnosis of primary and secondary zinc deficiency in children.
• To compare serum zinc levels in healthy individuals with those in patients with zinc deficiency disorders.

Main Methods:

• Neutron activation analysis was employed to measure serum zinc concentrations.
• Healthy individuals of various ages were included in the study.
• Serum zinc levels were also assessed in patients diagnosed with secondary zinc deficiency and acrodermatitis enteropathica.

Main Results:

• A slight age-dependent variation in mean serum zinc concentrations was observed in healthy subjects.
• Serum zinc levels were found to be lower in cord blood (880 x 10^-9 g/ml) and infants (820 x 10^-9 g/ml) compared to adults (1178 x 10^-9 g/ml).
• Patients with secondary zinc deficiency and acrodermatitis enteropathica exhibited serum zinc concentrations approximately 25% of normal values.

Conclusions:

• The study provides age-specific reference values for serum zinc, valuable for pediatric diagnostics.
• Lower serum zinc concentrations in infants highlight their vulnerability to zinc deficiency.
• Neutron activation analysis is a reliable method for assessing zinc status and diagnosing deficiency.