Serum Zinc Levels of Children with Malnutrition

Abstract

Serum zinc levels o f 79 pediatric patients with malnutrition, mean age 16.6±11.7 months (min. 3 month, max. 36 month) was compared with control groııp, consisting of 19 children without malnutrition, mean age 13.4±7.2 months (min. 3 month, max. 24 month), hospitalized in Infant Section of Pediatric Clinics, Medical Faculty of Dicle Utıiversity between February - December in 1996. Se?'iım zinc levels were measured by Uııicam 929 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer in Chemical Department of Science Faculty. Mean serum zinc level of children with malnutrition was 0.559±0.179 ppnı (min. 0.300 ppm, max. 0.777 ppnı). This was signifıcantly lower thatı control group level which was 0.968+0.153 ppnı (min. 0.735, max. 1.200 ppm) (p<0.001).