Zinc Levels and Blood Enzyme Activities in Egyptian Male Subjects with Retarded Growth and Sexual Development

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Abstract
Zinc deficiency in animals results in a retardation of growth and sexual development. An attempt has been made during previous investigations to correlate low plasma zinc levels in rural male Egyptians with retarded growth and sexual development. Our present studies have revealed that plasma zinc levels in rural male Egyptians with normal maturation are also low. Normal Egyptians and Americans living in Cairo have normal plasma zinc levels. Egyptian "hypogonadal dwarfs" have been demonstrated to ultimately obtain sexual maturity and a normal stature without treatment or change in their low plasma zinc levels. Thus the significance of plasma zinc level as a reflection of maturation or zinc deficiency remains unclear.

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