Whole body surface loss of trace metals in normal males

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Whole body surface losses of zinc, copper, and iron were measured in 13 male volunteers who lived in a controlled environment for 4 to 9 months. For 88 daily samples, the mean losses for zinc, copper, and iron were 0.50, 0.34, and 0.33 mg/day (3.9, 26, and 2.1% of the mean dietary intakes, respectively). There was a large variance in metal losses with no significant differences in variance within-versus-between subjects or on the same-versus-different diets. The surface losses of zinc and iron increased the apparent dietary requirements determined by balance measurements only 5 and 3%, respectively, while the increase in copper requirement due to surface loss was 25 to 30%.