Uzair Mumtaz, Tahira Saleem, Asifa Ashraf, Hamid Javaid Qureshi.
Serum Zinc and Serum Protein Levels in Lower, and Upper / Upper Middle Socioeconomic Groups.
Pak J Med Health Sci Jan ;12(2):724-7.

Aim: To assess the levels of zinc (Zn +2) and proteins in sera (albumin, globulin, total proteins and albumin / globulin ratio) of different socioeconomic groups. Methods: Hundred subjects in total were investigated. Out of these, 50 belonged to the lower socioeconomic (LSEC) group and 50 belonged to the upper / upper middle socioeconomic (USEC) group with equal distribution of gender . Estimation of serum zinc, serum total proteins and serum albumin were made by colorimetric methods whereas the determination of globulin in serum was done by deducting the value of albumin from total proteins in serum. The ratio, serum albumin /globulin (A/G) was also calculated . A comparison of all parameters was made between the two socioeconomic (SEC) groups. Results: Results revealed significantly low serum zinc, serum proteins and serum albumin in LSEC class in comparison with USEC class. The A/G ratio in serum was also low in the LSEC class in comparison with USEC class and the difference was significant. Generally serum Zn +2 showed positive correlation with serum proteins in a significant manner . Conclusion: The LSEC class has low serum zinc levels and low serum proteins levels and hence is at greater risk of developing diseases related to low serum proteins.

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