American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 22, 1349-1353, Copyright © 1969 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Hair Zinc Levels of Andean Indian Children during Protein—Calorie Malnutrition

¹ Associate Clinical Professor of Human Nutrition, University of California at Berkeley, Nutrition Specialist, AES, University of California statewide
² Assistant Director of Research, British American Hospital; Head, Pediatric Department, University Hospital; and Associate Professor, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru

The presence of hypochromotricia in kwashiorkor has encouraged the determination of trace elements in hair as a possible diagnostic aid in early protein-calorie malnutrition. In this study, hair zinc levels were determined for 26 children entering the hospital with a diagnosis of marasmic kwashiorkor and 17 children entering the hospital with marasmus. The values were compared with recovery samples from some of the same children and also with a group of 12 children of the same age and ethnic group who were participating in a longitudinal growth study and who had been provided a well-balanced diet for a long period of time. Normal zinc levels were found in children with both forms of protein-calorie malnutrition. There were no clear-cut trends in zinc levels in the same child between the acute and recovery stages. There was no relation between hair zinc levels and the presence or absence of hypochromotricia in marasmic kwashiorkor admission samples.