Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate zinc and copper metabolism and risk factors of chronic diseases in 20 normal adults women. The daily intake, excretions in urine and feces, and serum levels of zinc and copper were determined by 24-hr food records and chemical analysis. The results were summarized as follows. mean age, body weight and BMI were 22.88 years, 54.65 kg and 21.28 kg/m2 respectively. Mean daily intakes of energy and protein were 1578.84 kcal(79% of RDA) and 52.05g (87% of RDA). The zinc and copper intake, excrestion in urine and feces were 7093.23 microgram(59% of RDA/2093.87 microgram, 203.50 microgram/39.87 microgram and 3416.41 microgram/857.62 microgram, respectively. The serum levels of fasting glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, zinc and copper were 76.60 mg/dl, 15.66IU/dl, 160.30 mg/dl, 50.95 mg/dl, 89.80 mg/dl, 89.79 mg/dl, 95.65 microgram/dl and 73.28 microgram/dl respectively. Dietary ratio of Zn to Cu was shown to have significant positive correlations with serum insulin, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol. The urinary ratio of Zn to Cu was shown to have significant positive correlations with triglyceride. The serum copper level was shown to have significant negative correlations with serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. In summary, Zn consumption of adult women in their normal diet does not meet the Zn requirement for Koreans. Also, intakes of Zn and Cu may effect the glucose metabolism and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, to increase the Zn intake and to maintain an appropriate intake ratio of Zn to Cu, nutrition education needs to be implemented.

• Keywords: zinc; copper metabolism; blood blucose; insulin; serum lipids