Serum trace elements and fat-soluble vitamins A and E in healthy pre-school children from a Venezuelan rural community

Zn (SZn), Cu (SCu), Fe (SFe), vitamin A (SVA) and vitamin E (SVE) were meas ured in blood serum samples of 85 healthy pre-school children aged 2-6 yr. from the rural community of Canagua, Merida State, Venezuela. The relations hip between these biochemical indexes was also investigated. The mean serum concentrations of zinc, copper, iron, vitamin A and vitamin E were 0.74 +/ - 0.25, 1.18 +/- 0.30, 0.76 +/- 0.20, 0.30 +/- 0.15 and 5.87 +/- 0.43 mg/L, respectively. There was a tendency for SZn to increase with age, whereas S Cu and SVA decreased. There was no significant difference in serum trace el ements and fat-soluble vitamin concentration between males and females in t he different age groups. SFe tended to be lower than that reported in the l iterature. However, the age groups studied showed no statistically signific ant sex- and age-related differences. The present study shows that there is a complex interaction between SZn, SCu, SFe, SVA, SVE and age of the child ren. Multiple regression analysis showed serum zinc was strongly related to serum copper, and serum iron. Serum vitamin A was strongly related to seru m zinc and serum vitamin E, whereas serum vitamin E was strongly related to serum zinc, serum copper, and serum vitamin A. On the other hand, our obse rvations also suggest that more detailed studies of these metals and fat-so luble vitamins should be carried out, and that the study should include nut ritional surveys, metabolic balances and associations between SZn, SCu, SFe , SVA and SVE and anthropometric variables (height, weight, body mass index and skinfold thickness).