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To evaluate Cu nutritional status and the effect of a Cu supplement during recuperation,26 marasmic infants were selected on admission to the nutrition recovery center, excluding those with secondary malnutrition. Half received an 80ug/kg/day Cu supplement(S) as sulphate the remaining a placebo(P), They were paired by birth weight, age and sex. Anthropometric indices, CBC, ceruloplasmine and plasma Cu were measured on admission and at monthly intervals. They were fed ad-lib milk based diets adding CHO and fat to provide > 150Kcal/kg/day and > 4.5g Protein/kg/day. Vitamin and Iron supplements were given. The mean ± S.D. Cu levels on admission were 121 ± 28ug/dl for S and 132 ± 37 for P. We found an increase in plasma Cu to 159 and 171 in group S at 30 and 60 days and after day 30 a decrease in group P. Low plasma Cu and clinical signs of deficit were found in 25% of group P. These were removed from the study and given Cu. One third of group P had low ceruloplasmine but none in group S. Preliminary data analysis shows decrease weight gain in group P associated to increased infectious morbidity. We conclude that a significant proportion of marasmic infants fed a milk based diet present during recovery signs of Cu deficiency. Supplementation at levels recommended for normals can prevent clinical and biochemical signs of deficit.

Serum Zn, Cu and Mg deficiencies have characteristic pathologic findings. There is no information on the nutritional status of these elements in the Chilean population. Results of a preliminary study on 120 apparently healthy school-age chiledren, aged 6-17 years, from the low socioeconomic level are reported. Wt and Ht were below the 5th centile in 20 and 27% of cases. No signs suggestive of deficiencies of the studied elements were observed.S.,Zn,Cu and Mg values were below 1SD from the mean in 15%,14.2% and 11.6%. In 35.8% of children S.,Zn was below 100µg/dl. Cases with low Wt or Ht did not show the lowest serum levels observed. These results are in the lowest range of normalcy. They suggest that there may be some Zn,Cu or Mg deficiency in the school-age population in Chile. However, this is not as severe as that described in other countries. Supported by Nutrition Foundation.