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Serum copper and zinc concentrations in healthy children aged 3–14 years in greece

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Abstract

Zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are essential trace elements in people, being required for functional activity of several enzyme systems. In this study, we determined Cu and Zn concentrations in the serum of 105 healthy children randomly selected, aged 3–14 yr, residing in a region of Greece (Thrace), and we investigated their association with children's gender, age, height, weight, and nutritional habits. The mean levels of Zn and Cu were 15.01±2.95 μmol/L and 26.18±5.47 μmol/L, respectively, with no significant difference between boys and girls. A significant positive correlation was found between age and Zn levels, and a negative one was found between age and Cu levels. Both Zn and Cu levels tended to increase with height, whereas Zn levels significantly decreased with increasing body mass indent (BMI). The consumption of meat, milk, and eggs were independent determinants for higher Zn levels, and the consumption of legumes and fruits were independent determinants for higher Cu levels. A significant negative correlation was found between Zn and Cu levels. In conclusion, our study, the first one evaluating the serum status of Cu and Zn in healthy Greek children, identified significant correlations of Zn and Cu levels with their age, height, BMI, and nutritional habits.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece

    Vasiliki Arvanitidou, Aggelos Tsalkidis, Stylianos Filippidis & Ioannis Androulakis

  2. Institute of Child Health, “Agia Sophia” Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece

    Irini Voskaki, Helen Athanasopoulou & Kleopatra Schulpis

  3. Department of Medical Statistics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece

    Gregory Tripsianis

Authors
  1. Vasiliki Arvanitidou
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  2. Irini Voskaki
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  3. Gregory Tripsianis
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  4. Helen Athanasopoulou
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  7. Kleopatra Schulpis
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  8. Ioannis Androulakis
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Arvanitidou, V., Voskaki, I., Tripsianis, G. et al. Serum copper and zinc concentrations in healthy children aged 3–14 years in greece. Biol Trace Elem Res 115, 1–12 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1385/BTER:115:1:1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/BTER:115:1:1

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