The aim of this study was to validate a method for determining erythrocytic Zn (ZnER) by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), in order to evaluate, with this parameter, the Zn nutriture of adult women (n=21), and to relate it with the dietary daily Zn ingestion by the group. The method was validated with limits of detection and quantification of 0.006 and 0.045(0.013)mgZn/mL, respectively, and accuracy and intra and inter-assay coefficients of variation of 95(0.4)%, 3.6% and 5.3%, respectively. The average daily ingestion of Zn by the adult women was 9.7(3)mgZn/d, 15 of them had intake levels above the Recommended Dietary Allowance of 8 mg/d (RDA/2001) and 4 below the Estimated Average Requirement of 6,8 mg/d (EAR /2001). The average concentration of ZnER was 38.2(5) mgZn/gHb, a value lower than that found by other authors for the same age and gender group. Food sources of Zn in their diets (>1.2 mg Zn/serving) were: bovine and pork meat, bovine liver, sausages, plain cheese, white, gouda and mussarela type cheeses, and peanuts.
Erythrocytic zinc; Analytical method; Women; Nutrition; Dietary Reference Intakes
