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Inverse Correlation Between Serum Calcium and Copper Levels in Male Urban Colombian Preschool Children: Relationships with Anthropometry and Age

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Abstract

Copper and calcium are essential for human growth and development. The present study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between calcium and copper levels, as well as their relationship to age and anthropometry in 180 preschool children ages 2–5 years old. Serum copper levels were inversely correlated with age (r = −0.184, P = 0.032) and height (r = −0.175, P = 0.043) in the whole group and with height for age Z score only in male children (r = −0.291, P = 0.016). The correlation with age is not maintained when it is analyzed for gender. Serum calcium values in the total group were inversely correlated with weight (r = −0.153, P = 0.044) and weight for height Z score (r = −0.246, P = 0.001). No differences were found for gender in the levels of both metals. A negative relationship between serum calcium and copper was found only in male children (r = −0.339, P = 0.005). Studies are required in other populations and experimental designs that can explain an inverse relationship between serum calcium and copper levels.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr Jesús Larrahondo (PhD) and the chemistry laboratory of Centro de Investigación de la Caña de Azúcar de Colombia (Cenicaña) for their collaboration in metal measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physiological Sciences Department, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia

    Milton Fabian Suárez-Ortegón, Patricia Jiménez, Mildrey Mosquera & Cecilia Aguilar de Plata

  2. Public Health School, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia

    Alberto Gonzalo Pradilla

  3. Medicine School, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia

    Ana Beatriz Gracia

  4. Nutrition Group, Universidad del Valle (San Fernando), Calle 4B 36-00, Edificio 116, Quinto piso, Oficina 5503, Cali, Colombia

    Milton Fabian Suárez-Ortegón, Patricia Jiménez, Mildrey Mosquera, Alberto Gonzalo Pradilla, Ana Beatriz Gracia & Cecilia Aguilar de Plata

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  1. Milton Fabian Suárez-Ortegón
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  2. Patricia Jiménez
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  3. Mildrey Mosquera
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  4. Alberto Gonzalo Pradilla
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  5. Ana Beatriz Gracia
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  6. Cecilia Aguilar de Plata
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Correspondence to Milton Fabian Suárez-Ortegón.

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Suárez-Ortegón, M.F., Jiménez, P., Mosquera, M. et al. Inverse Correlation Between Serum Calcium and Copper Levels in Male Urban Colombian Preschool Children: Relationships with Anthropometry and Age. Biol Trace Elem Res 144, 445–453 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-011-9132-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-011-9132-8

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