Evaluation of zinc and copper nutritional status and effects upon growth of southern adolescent females

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Abstract
A biracial sample of twenty-nine 14-yr old and thirty 16-yr old females was evaluated for zinc and copper nutritional status. Socioeconomic, demographic, anthropometric and 24-h dietary recall data were collected and plasma zinc and copper and erythrocyte zinc levels determined. Mean plasma zinc was 83 ± 15 µg/dl; racial differences were significant (p < 0.05) with plasma zinc levels at 87 ± 3 µg/dl for whites and 79 ± 3 µg/dl for blacks. Mean plasma copper was 119 ± 24 µg/dl and was slightly higher for blacks than for whites. Mean erythrocyte zinc was 8.3 ± 2.7 µg/g and represented 10 times the level of zinc in plasma. Plasma copper levels were positively (p < 0.05) related to body size. Plasma copper was negatively (p < 0.05) related to dietary fiber. Other dietary and economic factors did not affect mineral status.