Atherosclerosis precursors in Finnish children and adolescents. XIII. Serum and hair copper and zinc concentrations

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The copper and zinc status of 3–18‐year‐old Finnish children was estimated by analysing 3,480 serum copper and zinc concentrations, 853 hair copper and 868 hair zinc concentrations. Both copper and zinc have been proposed to be connected with the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. In addition, zinc is essential for normal growth and development. The mean serum copper concentration of 3‐year‐old children was 21.2 μmol/l and the concentration was significantly lower in older age groups. The average serum zinc concentration showed a narrow variation between 14.1 and 15.0 μmol/l in all age groups, nevertheless girls had significantly lower and boys higher values with increasing age. The distribution of hair copper concentration was skewed within the age groups; the median vaned between 9.7 μg/g and 29.8 μg/g for 3‐year‐old urban girls and 18‐year‐old rural girls, respectively. Some rural girls had exceptionally high hair copper levels. Hair zinc concentrations increased with age. In the three youngest age groups (3, 6 and 9 years) the distribution was skewed and the levels low compared with results from the USA where a zinc concentration below 30 μg/g is found to be associated with the zinc deficiency syndrome.

Zinc and Copper Status in Children with High Family Risk of Premature Cardiovascular Disease

“…[1][2][3][4][8][9][10][11][12] An extensive study on zinc and copper in Finland showed the serum zinc level of 3-18 year-old subjects to be 95.2±17.2 µg/dL. 16 In the present study, the serum level was 86.8±19.6 µg/dL, which was lower, although not significantly different from the reference value (100.0±20.0 µg/dL). Also, while the serum zinc and copper levels in girls were lower than in boys in the Finnish study, no sex difference was seen in our study.…”

Zinc, Copper, and Growth Status in Children and Adolescents

“…S-Zn, S-Cu and anthropometric variables used in this study were determined as part of the Multicentre Study of Atherosclerosis Precursors in Finnish children and adolescents in 1980 (10)(11)(12). The study was carried out in five university cities and in 12 rural communities in their vicinity in different parts of Finland.…”

“…S-Zn and S-Cu were determined from morning fasting blood ST, sum of triceps and subscapularis skinfold thicknesses samples collected in acid-washed test tubes; after clot separation, serum was stored at -18°C. The duplicate determinations were performed using the flame technique of atomic absorption spectrophotometry (12). Height, wt, BMI, and ST were used as anthropometric variables.…”

Interaction between caffeine intake and heart zinc concentrations in the rat

“…Zn is reported to play an important role in the maintenance of membrane structure and function (Bettger & O'Dell, 1981), and to alter the permeability of major ions, contractile force and transmembrane potential in the muscle cells (Muneoka et al 1979). Since Zn is needed in wound healing, and atherosclerosis is believed to begin with mini-trauma in the intima of vessels, a low Zn concentration may result in inadequate repair (Vuori et al 1985). It has been shown that Zn levels of the necrotic area in men who died of myocardial infarction are low (Speich, 1982).…”