Biomaterial Database

Dietary intake of copper, chromium and zinc in Tarragona Province, Spain. 1993

M Schuhmacher, and J L Domingo, and J M Llobet, and J Corbella

Laboratory of Toxicology and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Spain.

The dietary intake of copper, chromium, and zinc from foods in Tarragona Province (NE Spain) was determined by means of two different methods: the total diet study and the duplicate diet study. In the total diet study, a total of 375 food samples were analyzed, whereas duplicates of food consumed weekly by 20 families were analyzed for copper, chromium and zinc concentrations. Pulses were the group with the highest levels of the three elements; vegetables and fruits which are basic items in the 'Mediterranean diet', contained low concentrations of these metals. Total intakes of copper, chromium and zinc were 1156.3, 124.6 and 7522.9 micrograms day-1, respectively. On the other hand, the total intake of the elements obtained through the duplicate diet study was 1119.8 micrograms day-1 for copper, 129.0 micrograms day-1 for chromium, and 6800.1 micrograms day-1 for zinc. The daily intake of copper and zinc by the population of Tarragona Province is lower than the usually recommended values, while the intake of chromium is closer to those values.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002857	Chromium	A trace element that plays a role in glucose metabolism. It has the atomic symbol Cr, atomic number 24, and atomic weight 52. According to the Fourth Annual Report on Carcinogens (NTP85-002,1985), chromium and some of its compounds have been listed as known carcinogens.
D003300	Copper	A heavy metal trace element with the atomic symbol Cu, atomic number 29, and atomic weight 63.55.	Copper-63,Copper 63
D004034	Diet Surveys	Systematic collections of factual data pertaining to the diet of a human population within a given geographic area.	Diet Survey,Survey, Diet,Surveys, Diet
D005504	Food Analysis	Measurement and evaluation of the components of substances to be taken as FOOD.	Analysis, Food,Analyses, Food,Food Analyses
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013030	Spain	Country located between France on the northeast and Portugal on the west and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The capital is Madrid.	Balearic Islands,Canary Islands
D015032	Zinc	A metallic element of atomic number 30 and atomic weight 65.38. It is a necessary trace element in the diet, forming an essential part of many enzymes, and playing an important role in protein synthesis and in cell division. Zinc deficiency is associated with ANEMIA, short stature, HYPOGONADISM, impaired WOUND HEALING, and geophagia. It is known by the symbol Zn.