Serum Zinc and Copper in Iron Deficient Adolescents.

Background: Adolescents are vulnerable to iron deficiency. Deficiency of iron may be associated with deficiency of zinc and high copper level. Objectives: To observe serum zinc and copper status in iron deficient anemic adolescents. Methods: This observational study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, BSMMU, between January and December 2007. For this, total 60 adolescents of both sexes aged 11-18 years were selected. Of them,on the basis of hemoglobin and serum Ferrtin level 15 iron deficient male adolescents (Hb<13g/dl, SF<30ìg/L) and 15 iron deficient female adolescents (Hb<11.5g/dl, SF<22ìg/L)were included into study group as group B1and B2 respectively. Age and sex matched apparently healthy 15 male and 15 female subjects without iron deficiency were taken as control(group A1, A2). Serum zinc and copper status were assessed by measuring serum zinc and copper levels by atomic absorption spectrophotometric method and | serum ferritin and serum iron levels by micro particle enzyme immunoassay method. Data were analyzed by un paired student t test. Results: In both male and female iron deficient adolescents, mean serum zinc level was significantly (p<0.01) lower and serum copper level was significantly higher(p<0.01) than those of their respective healthy control. No statistically significant differences of these values were observed between A1 vs A2 and B1 vs B2. In this study, hypozincemia and hypercupremia were observed in both male and female iron deficient adolescents Conclusion: Therefore, from this study concludes that deficiency of iron may be associated with hypozincemia and hypercupremia in anemic adolescents and the supplementation of zinc along with iron is suggested for the correction of iron deficiency anemia especially in adolescents when their metabolic demand is high.