OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the nutritional status of zinc in children from two to five years old, institutio-nalised in daycare centers in the Municipality of João Pessoa, Paraíba. METHODS: a systematic random sample comprised of 377 children. The nutritional status of zinc was evaluated according to the following parameters: mineral concentrations in the hair and enzymatic activity levels of serum alkaline phosphatase. RESULTS: inadequate zinc concentrations prevalence in the hair was of 61,9% with predominance in the form of severe deficiency, 38,5%. Prevalence of inadequate concentrations of levels of serum alkaline phosphatase activity was 40,1%. Zinc concentrations in the hair did not correlatated with serum alkaline phosphatase (r = 0,01; p = 0,882). According to sex and age zinc distribution in the hair was homogenous. The alkaline phosphaase had identical behavior. CONCLUSIONS: zinc deficiency is extremely high in the municipality of João Pessoa.
Zinc; Nutritional status; Alkaline phosphatase; Child, preschool
