Mean Values and Reference Intervals for Some Minerals / Эрүүл мэндийн лаборатори

ABSTRACT

Background@#Minerals are important for the proper body functioning. They also play a role in preventing and fighting diseases. Reference values for minerals help physicians evaluate the mineral status of patients and make clinical decisions. The aim of this study was to determine the mean values and reference intervals for some minerals to be used for evaluation of the nutrition status of Mongolians.@*Materials and Methods@#Two hundred and forty healthy adults (120 males and 120 females) of 17 to 70 years of age were selected for the study based on CLSI C28-P3 criteria Defining, establishing & Verifying reference interval in the clinical laboratory; Proposed Guidelines. The study was approved by the ethical committee of the Ministry of Health of Mongolia. Informed consents were taken from the selected individuals. Morning blood samples of the participants were collected under aseptic conditions. Levels of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) were measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The lower and upper reference limits were defined as the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles, respectively. The data were analyzed using SPSS and Excel programs. @*Results@#The mean level of blood iron was 30.50 µmol/L (95% CI 29.71-31.29) for men and 30.91 µmol/L (95% CI 30.03-31.79) for women. The calculated reference interval for males was 21.39-37.72 µmol/L and 19.87-39.67 µmol/L for females. The mean concentration of zinc in the blood of males was 11.00 µmol/L (95% CI 10.69-11.31) and that of females was 11.79 µmol/L (95% CI 11.39-12.19). The reference interval for blood zinc was 8.20-14.92 µmol/L in men and 8.52-16.67 µmol/L in women. The mean level of blood copper was 15.28 µmol/L (95% CI 14.64-15.89) for men and 18.08 µmol/L (95% CI 17.30-18.86) for women. The calculated reference interval for copper in males was 9.72-22.34 µmol/L and that in females was 11.18-27.27 µmol/L.@*Conclusion@#The reference values for zinc, copper and iron of Mongolian adults do not differ significantly from those observed in other countries. The calculated reference intervals can be used for evaluation of the nutrition status and making clinical decisions.