Serum zinc levels of healthy Nigerian infants in the first six months of lactation

Abstract

Objective: To establish the serum zinc levels in Nigerian children in the first six months of lactation. Materials and methods: This was a cross sectional study. Serum zinc levels were assessed in 120 healthy breast fed infants in the first six months of lactation. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used for the analysis. Results: The average serum zinc level obtained is 1.21ug/ml. Conclusions: The mean serum zinc level obtained is appropriate for the infants as their growth was satisfactory and no signs of zinc deficiency were noted.

Keywords

• breast fed infants
• serum zinc level