Effect of diarrhea on serum zinc and copper concentration in infants and children

ABSTRACT

Zinc and copper status was evaluated in forty children suffering from diarrhea and twenty healthy controls. Clinical history and examination, hemogram, stool analysis, ad culture, and X-Ray were done for analysis purpose. Serum zinc was depressed in the acute diarrhea group [107.8 +/- 22.19 micro g/dl] and more decrease occurred in the chronic diarrhea [85.2 +/- 3.84 micro g/*dl] when compared with both the acute [P< 0.01] and control group [P< 0.001]. Serum copper was similar I both acute and control groups, but it was diminished in the chronic diarrhea group when compared with acute diarrhea and control group [P< 0.001]. Thus, it can be concluded that chronic diarrhea in infants and children is associated with lower levels of serum zinc and copper