Reference values for serum copper, ceruloplasmin and zinc and haematological indices for healthy nulliparous females.
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).
Heese
H D
HD
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town.
Lawrence
M A
MA
Dempster
W S
WS
Pocock
F
F
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*
D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D002570:Ceruloplasmin; D015032:Zinc