title: [Zinc plasma levels in a low socioeconomic status population of children in Maracaibo, Venezuela].
abstract: The objective of the present work was to determine plasma zinc concentration in a children's population belonging to low income families in Maracaibo, Venezuela. One hundred fifty-nine children (M:75;F:84) aged 3 months to 8 years were studied by clinic, anthropometric and socio-economical parameters. Fasting peripheral venipuncture blood samples were obtained and analyzed for plasma zinc using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Plasma zinc levels were low (< 75 micrograms/dl) in 38.36% of the children studied. In turn, 33.89% of the eutrophic group, and 41% of the malnourished group were zinc deficient. By analyzing separately the group of children in which plasma zinc levels ranged between 75-80 micrograms/dl (critical zone), it could be seen that 18.65% of eutrophic and 10% of malnourished children belonged to this group. Thus, over 50% of the total children's population studied had critical or deficient plasma zinc levels. Therefore, functional studies on nutritional status of zinc are recommended to the Venezuelan children population; in case of being evidently deficitary, it is necessary to establish immediate zinc supplementation nutritional programs; especially for children coming from low income families.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del Zulia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amaya
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Urrieta
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Molano
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Medrano
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Castejón
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014687:Venezuela; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D015032:Zinc