Resumo

FAVARO, Rosa Maria Duarte  e  VANNUCCHI, Helio. Plasma zinc levels and the anthropometry of children on the outskirts of the urban center, Brazil. Rev. Saúde Pública [online]. 1990, vol.24, n.1, pp. 5-10. ISSN 0034-8910.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89101990000100003.

The main objective of the present study was to estímate plasma zinc concentration in children belonging to low-income families residing in three different neighborhoods on the outskirts of Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil, and to determine a possible correlation of this parameter with several anthropometric measurements. Plasma zinc levels were lower than 70 µg% in 13% of the children studied. Weight for age, height for age and weight/height ratio were below 90% of the 50th percentile of National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) in 42.9%, 6.3% and 9.5% of children, respectively. Tricipital fold, arm circumference and muscle circumference were also below 90% of the 50^th percentile in 65.8%, 11.0% and 7.3% of the children, respectively. No correlation was observed between plasma zinc levels and the anthropometric parameters studied.

Palavras-chave : Zinc [blood]; Anthropometry; Socioeconomic factors.