Blood zinc, copper and magnesium in aging - A study in healthy home-living elderly

Background. Blood concentrations of copper, zinc and magnesium were determined in healthy elderly to assess whether aging interferes with mineral and micronutrient status. Methods. Experimental design: case series. Setting: Internal Medicine and Geriatrics ambulatories in a University Hospital in Pisa, a city of Central Italy. Participants: 143 healthy outpatients of both sexes, who underwent a cardiological examination. Intervention: no treatment and intervention were performed. Measures: copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and magnesium - both intraerythrocytic (iMg) and extracellular (eMg) - were measured. Results, The concentrations of Cu and eMg were found significantly higher in the elderly: Cu 117.5+/-17.0 mug/dl in the elderly vs 102.5+/-19.6 mug/dl in the younger (p<0.001); eMg 1.8+/-0.2 in the elderly vs 1.7+/-0.2 mEq/l in the younger (p<0.05). On the other hand, the levels of Zn and iMg did not differ in the two groups: Zn 113.3+/-14.9 mug/dl in the elderly vs 118.0+/-17.3 mug/dl in the younger, p=n.s.; iMg 4.3+/-0.4 mEq/l in the elderly vs 4.2+/-0.4 mEq/l in the younger, p=n.s. No correlation was found between age and single elements. Conclusions. These results suggest that the healthy free-living elderly have an adequate mineral intake. Nutrient supplements may by useful in the elderly with chronic diseases, comorbidities, and polypharmacy to prevent further age dysfunctions.