title: Reference values for serum copper, ceruloplasmin and zinc and haematological indices for healthy nulliparous females.
abstract: Reference serum copper, ceruloplasmin and zinc values were established for 100 healthy white nulliparous students aged 18-23 years resident in Cape Town who had been taking low-dosage triphasic contraceptives for a minimum period of 3 months, and in 100 female students not taking contraceptives. The mean serum copper values were 26.5 +/- 4.2 mumol/l and 16.9 +/- 2.7 mumol/l for those taking and not taking oral contraceptives respectively; corresponding values for ceruloplasmin were 181 +/- 43.9 IU/ml and 110 +/- 22.7 IU/ml respectively. Both differences were statistically significant. Serum zinc values for those on contraceptives were 14.1 +/- 2.1 mumol/l and for the others 14.7 +/- 2.0 mumol/l. There were no differences in the haematological parameters except for a significantly higher mean corpuscular volume in females taking oral contraceptives. Of possible clinical significance in this student population are prevalence rates of 2.2% for anaemia (haemoglobin value less than 11.5 g/dl), 7% for iron deficiency (serum ferritin less than 12 micrograms/l) and 6.6% for iron depletion (serum ferritin 12-20 micrograms/l).
authors: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town.
authors: H D
authors: HD
authors: Heese
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Lawrence
authors: W S
authors: WS
authors: Dempster
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Pocock
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000032:analysis*; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000494:pharmacology; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D010298:Parity; D012016:Reference Values; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D002570:Ceruloplasmin; D015032:Zinc