A Quantitative Study, by Means of Spectrographic Analysis, of Zinc in Nutrition

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Abstract
Thirty-five zinc balance studies have been made with three normal boys of preschool age. The ashed food, feces, urine, distilled water and acid-alcohol were analyzed spectrographically for zinc by comparing their spectra with those produced by solutions of known concentration. The zinc values for food which were analyzed by quantitative spectrographic technic were found to be almost 40% lower than the theoretical values estimated from published analyses for which the turbidimetric method had been used. From 0.04 to 6.0% of the ingested zinc was eliminated through the urine. The rest of the excreted zinc, representing from 42 to 164% of the ingested amount, was eliminated through the alimentary tract. Since more than two-thirds of the thirty-five balance studies gave retentions which were significantly greater than the error determined for the method used, it would seem that zinc is associated with physiological functioning. On the basis of the limited ingestion range studied it is tentatively concluded that 0.307 mg. of zinc per kilogram of body weight will supply the zinc needs of the preschool age child.