Zinc and copper status in childbearing age Tunisian women: Relation to age, residential area, socioeconomic situation and physiologic characteristics

• The zinc and copper status of Tunisian women was assessed.
• A high prevalence of low plasma zinc and copper concentrations was observed.
• The living area and professional activity affected plasma levels of both metals.
• Plasma copper levels increased with BMI and parity and decreased with increasing schooling level and economic score.
• The multiple regression analysis showed significant differences between professional activity and parity for copper levels.

Plasma zinc and copper status of 1689 non pregnant Tunisian women, aged 20–49 years old, was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. A multiple regression was run to predict plasma trace element concentrations from age, BMI, marital status, menopause, education level, professional activity, economic level and area of living. The mean zinc and copper values were similar to those measured among comparable populations in earlier studies. However, a high prevalence of low plasma zinc and copper concentrations was observed assuming that women at childbearing age are at high risk of zinc and copper deficiencies and specific intervention may be considered. In univariate analysis, the mean values of plasma zinc and copper were associated with sitting areas and professional activity. For only plasma copper levels, there was an increase with BMI and parity, and a decrease with increasing schooling level and economic score. After adjustment for all variables, profession and parity showed a significant relationship between plasma levels copper.

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