[Relationship between body surface zinc loss and dietary zinc intake in children].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of body surface loss of zinc on the determination of dietary supply of zinc.


METHODS
Body surface loss of zinc was determined in 24 preschool children with normal zinc nutrition (Group A) and zinc malnutrition (Group B).


RESULTS
Body surface loss of zinc was 0.25 and 0.23 mg daily in Groups A and B with dietary zinc intake of 5.45 and 5.03 mg, respectively, and 0.29 and 0.25 mg daily with dietary zinc intake of 7.20 and 6.73 mg, respectively. The body surface loss of zinc accounted for five percent of the total.


CONCLUSIONS
Considering the loss of zinc from body surface, it is suggested that dietary zinc supply be increased by 21 percent. When children is in good status of zinc nutrition, body surface loss of zinc correlates proportionally with their dietary zinc intake.
D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*