[Prevalence of zinc and copper deficiencies in older subjects living in Metropolitan Santiago].

BACKGROUND Older subjects have a high risk of developing zinc and copper deficiencies. AIM To determine the prevalence of copper and zinc deficiencies in adults aged over 60 years, living in Metropolitan Santiago. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Analyses were performed using anonymous serum samples from older subjects living in Santiago, Chile, who participated in the multicenter project SABE. Of the studied subjects, 49.3% had enough left over serum to measure serum zinc and copper concentrations by atomic absorption spectrometry. RESULTS A total of 444 men and 198 women were studied. A positive correlation between serum zinc and copper was found in both women (r = 0.44, p < 0.001) and men (r = 0.48, p < 0.001). There were no differences in serum zinc concentration by sex and age. The prevalence of subnormal serum zinc valúes was 66.9% in women and 66.7% in men. Women had a significantly higher serum copper valúes than men (p < 0.02) and there were no differences by age. Prevalence of subnormal serum copper valúes was higher in women than in men (32.9 and 23.7% respectively, p < 0.05). Women had significantly higher copper I zinc serum ratio than men (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Older people living in Metropolitan Santiago have a high prevalence of copper and zinc deficiencies.