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Mean serum zinc (1.14 micrograms/ml) and copper (2.35 micrograms/ml) in 24 women taking oral contraceptive agents were compared against mean serum zinc (1.25 micrograms/ml) and copper (1.98 micrograms/ml) of 20 women of the same age range who served as controls. Serum zinc was significantly lower while serum copper was significantly higher for women taking the oral contraceptive agents. There was no significant correlation between the serum zinc and copper levels either in the control group (r = 0.04) or in the group taking the contraceptives (r = 0.36).

A simplified method was used to analyze the diets of 31 poor families in the city of Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil. The results are presented in terms of frequency of foods consumed, nutritional density and theoretical adequacy of the diet. Intrafamilial distribution of food intake was not considered in the analysis. Results show that the home diet was very limited in variety; only eight of the 46 items in the dietary frequency were consumed by 50% or more of the sample. Nutrient density was low for calcium, riboflavin, vitamin A and zinc. Energy density, as measured by the ratio of fat calories to protein calories (G/P) was 1.0, value considered nutritionally inadequate. Protein provided 16% of the energy and, of all nine nutrients analyzed, presented the highest levels of intake compared to recommended amounts. Theoretically, the groups at greater nutritional risk were women and children.

The authors make a critical review on the hair zinc literature, discussing the main contributions in this field. Certain explanations, as well as some solutions aimed to put an end to the confusion which exists on this matter are suggested. As a first step, it is recommended that only endogenous zinc in hair be reliably measured. Therefore, the zinc metabolic status should be operationally defined in function of the zinc detected in hair. Each one of the variables should thus be identified, quantified and controlled. It must be added that these variables would have to include differences in zinc metabolism. Only then would it be possible to see the real baseline reference value of hair zinc. At present researchers should begin looking for a functional relation and not just a statistical significant association between hair zinc concentration and zinc metabolic status. At the same time, it would be necessary to ratify and prove findings of the great number of studies reported in the paper, through the replication of studies with experimental animals.