B. Lundgren*, M. Mowè*, J. Norseth**, T. Bøhmer*

*Dept. of Medicine, Aker University Hospital, Oslo 0514, Norway. **Dr. Fürst Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, 1051 Oslo Norway. Correspondance to: T. Bøhmer MD., Department of medicine, Aker University Hospital. Phone: 47-22 89 48 28. Fax: 47-22 89 40 08

BACKGROUND: Zinc is an important trace element, and deficiency can cause disease and impairment of several physiological functions. OBJECTIVE: To examine s-zinc concentration in a large elderly population (347 subjects), and correlate it to standard biochemical markers, nutritional core indicators, and anamnestic data. DESIGN: A randomized population survey, studying two groups of elderly; one living at home and the other recently admitted to hospital. RESULTS: Serum zinc concentration was (Mean ± SD) in the home group (11.6 ± 1.8 mmoles /L), and in the hospital group (11,5 ± 2.5 mmoles /L). S-zinc was below 8 mmol/L in the hospital group in 22 of 250 patients and in 4 out of 97 of the home group. There was no significant difference in prevalence of zinc deficiency in hospital versus the home living group. Low s-zinc was significantly correlated to diarrhea, but to no other marker used in this study. CONCLUSION: Zinc deficiency is most probably of limited clinical importance in the elderly of Oslo, and there is no biochemical or nutritional marker that in addition to s-zinc can aid in the diagnosis.

Keywords: Zinc, elderly people, trace elements, deficiency.