Constancy of zinc and copper status in adult women consuming diets varying in ascorbic acid and phytate content
1988
Held, N.A. | Buergel, N. | Wilson, C.A. | Monsen, E.R.
Extract: Zinc and copper status, as determined by serum and hair concentrations, was assessed in 60 college-age women consuming self-selected diets. The effect of long term modest ascorbic acid supplementation on mineral status was also examined. Samples of serum and hair were analyzed using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Serum zinc and copper levels 88(+/-)7 and 108(+/-)26 ng/dl (mean(+/-)S.D.) were within normal reported ranges. Mean hair zinc and copper were 225 and 29 ug/gm, with wide variation between individuals. Diet histories were obtained from each subject for estimation of dietary zinc, phytate, and meat, fish and poultry. Zinc intake was 9.2 mg/day, 60% of the RDA. Dietary phytate intake and phytate:zinc molar ratios were 1293 mg/day and 14:4:1. In spite of relatively high phytate consumption, the participants appeared adequate in zinc and copper nutrition status. This may be partly due to the inclusion of animal tissue protein in the diets. Forty-two individuals were instructed to supplement their diet with 250 or 300mg of ascorbic acid for nine months. No change was observed in serum zinc after this time period. Copper absorption might be expected to be influenced by ascorbic acid because of its electron configuration; we, however, noted no change in copper status at this dosage of ascorbic acid.
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