SERUM ZINC AND COPPER LEVELS IN MALNOURIS HED CHILDREN

Background. - Serum copper and zinc levels are decreased in malnourish ed and infected children. The role of either malnutrition or infection remains undetermined. Population and methods. - Serum zinc and copper concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry i n 31 malnourished infants aged 1 to 26 months and 28 eutrophic infants aged 3 to 22 months. Fourteen infants of the first group and 10 of th e second were infected ai the time of study. Results. - Serum zinc and copper levels were significantly decreased in infants with malnutriti on (zinc: 66 +/- 32 mu g/dl and copper: 81 +/- 51 mu g/dl versus 108 /- 26 and 185 +/- 21, respectively, in eutrophic infants) (p < 0.001). These levels were still lower in those malnourished infants who were infected (zinc: 49.5 +/- 18 mu g/dl and copper: 63.5 +/- 37 mu g/dl ve rsus 81.56 +/- 35 and 94 +/- 56 in non infected patients) (p < 0.02). Conclusions. - Infection increases the risk of low serum zinc and copp er concentrations seen in malnourished children. This factor must be t aken in account when treating malnutrition