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Age-Based Differences in Hair Zinc of Vancouver Preschoolers

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Abstract

Marginal zinc deficiency (MZD), the subclinical stage of zinc deficiency, is common in industrialized societies. Serum zinc, the most common biomarker of zinc status, lacks sensitivity and specificity to diagnose this deficiency. Hair zinc, however, is sensitive and specific enough to detect MZD in children. Differences in hair zinc associated with age and sex have been reported. These differences have not been investigated thoroughly; therefore, interpretation of the results of hair analyses is difficult. This cross-sectional study was designed to examine the hair zinc status of a group of Vancouver preschoolers (24–71 months) and assess the age- and sex-based differences in their hair zinc. Hair samples were obtained (n = 719) and analyzed for zinc using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Our results indicated a mean hair zinc of 115 ± 43 μg/g with 17% below the low hair zinc cutoff (70 μg/g). Boys and girls had comparable mean hair zinc, while girls had a significantly higher occurrence of low hair zinc than boys (21% vs. 12%). Children <4 years of age had significantly lower mean hair zinc and higher rate of low hair zinc compared to children ≥4. Our study provides important reference values for the hair zinc of healthy North American preschoolers.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the West Coast Child Care Resource Centre for granting us the access to the childcare and preschool centers under their jurisdiction and to the personnel of these centers for their strong support throughout this study. We also like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our survey volunteers for their dedication and hard work in the process of data collection. This study was supported by a grant from the Human Early Learning Program (HELP).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Land and Food Systems, Food, Nutrition and Health, University of British Columbia, 2205 East Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada

    Ziba Vaghri, Susan Barr & Gwen Chapman

  2. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, University of British Columbia, 5804 Fairview Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada

    Hubert Wong & Clyde Hertzman

  3. University of British Columbia Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP), University of British Columbia, 440, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada

    Ziba Vaghri

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  1. Ziba Vaghri
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  2. Susan Barr
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  4. Gwen Chapman
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  5. Clyde Hertzman
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Correspondence to Ziba Vaghri.

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Vaghri, Z., Barr, S., Wong, H. et al. Age-Based Differences in Hair Zinc of Vancouver Preschoolers. Biol Trace Elem Res 126 (Suppl 1), 21–30 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-008-8215-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-008-8215-7

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