Zinc deficiency is of limited clinical importance in the elderly (>69 y) of Oslo.
BACKGROUND
Zinc is an important trace element, and deficiency can cause disease and impairment of several physiological functions.


OBJECTIVE
To examine s-zinc concentration in a large elderly population (347 subjects), and correlate it to standard biochemical markers, nutritional core indicators, and anamnestic data.


METHODS
A randomized population survey, studying two groups of elderly; one living at home and the other recently admitted to hospital.


RESULTS
Serum zinc concentration was (Mean SD) in the home group (11.6 1.8 micromoles /L), and in the hospital group (11,5 2.5 micromoles /L). S-zinc was below 8 micromol/L in the hospital group in 22 of 250 patients and in 4 out of 97 of the home group. There was no significant difference in prevalence of zinc deficiency in hospital versus the home living group. Low s-zinc was significantly correlated to diarrhea, but to no other marker used in this study.


CONCLUSIONS
Zinc deficiency is most probably of limited clinical importance in the elderly of Oslo, and there is no biochemical or nutritional marker that in addition to s-zinc can aid in the diagnosis.
Lundgren
B
B
Department of Medicine, Aker University Hospital, Oslo 0514, Norway.
Mowe
M
M
Norseth
J
J
Bøhmer
T
T
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D000886:Anthropometry; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D015995:Prevalence; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency*
D015032:Zinc