Advances in Life Science and Technology www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-7181 (Paper) ISSN 2225-062X (Online) Vol.15, 2013 20 An Analytical and Clinical Study for Measure the Bioavailability of Zinc in Serum Using Flame Atomic Absorption Technique Jasim Shamar, Ali Mahmood, Anwar Muslim, Hamid Hasan Department of Chemistry, College of Education for pure science, Ibn Al- Haitham, University of Baghdad – IRAQ. E-mail: gaforiiq@yahoo.co.uk Abstract An analytical and clinical study has been applied for measure the bioavailability of Zinc in serum of twenty adults healthy volunteers, using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FAAS) at 213.9 nm. The calibration graph is linear in the ranges of 0.25-1.5 μg.mL -1 with correlation coefficient (R) 0.09996)μg.mL 1- and molar absorpitivites 22957.76(L.mol 1- cm -1 .The concentration of Zinc determined in serum of all volunteers before and after administered orally a tablet of 50 mg zinc sulphate, produced by Samara drugs company (SDI). All data were subjected to statistical analysis by calculating accuracy, precision in addition to other parameters. The results indicate that the average maximum concentration (C-max ± SD) of blood zinc was 0.8275 ± 0.0511mg.mL -1 after one hour of absorption (T-max ± SD), however one capsule has drug bioavailability through all day. Keywords: Analytical, Clinical, Bioavailability, Zinc, Flam atomic abortion. 1. Introduction: Zinc is an essential mineral for human cell growth, differentiation, and DNA synthesis (1). It is play a critical role in the development and maintenance of a healthy immune system (2). There are many associations with diarrhea and increased fecal zinc loss, negative zinc balance, and low tissue zinc concentrations (3). High zinc loss during diarrhea has been observed in infants )4,5) Zinc supplementation for the treatment of diarrhea may also be critical in improving overall immune function. Individual zinc deficiency is difficult to accurately assess. Population level estimates from national food balance sheets are able to determine the amount of bio-available zinc per person per day by country. These data estimate 21% of persons around the world are at risk of zinc deficiency )6). In 2002 the World Health Organization defined zinc deficiency as one of the major risks to child health (7). Zinc is nutritionally an essential element and is required for the activity of a number of enzymes. About 20-30% of the ingested zinc is absorbed. Within mucosal cells zinc forms metal-protein complexes. Its known to be essential trace elements and a component of hundred of enzymes (8). Toxicity consequent upon excessive intake of this metal is rather uncommon (9). In recent years, the importance of zinc for human health and development (10) and the possible widespread occurrence of suboptimal zinc intakes (11,12) have gained recognition. The fortification of staple foods with zinc may play an important role in achieving adequate zinc intakes in at-risk populations. two of the most commonly used zinc fortificants to date are zinc oxide and zinc sulfate(13).a few earlier studies compared the absorption of zinc between these chemical forms using the oral zinc tolerance test as a measure of bioavailability, but the results were conflicting. One of those studies reported a much lower plasma appearance from zinc oxide preparations compared with zinc sulfate, whereas the other reported no difference. A more recent study used stable isotope tracer techniques to measure zinc absorption in a group of Indonesian children; in that study, wheat flour dumplings were fortified with either zinc oxide or zinc sulphate(14) and zinc absorption did not differ between groups. Zinc is an essential trace element for humans and animals (15). The recommended daily allowance is 11 mg of zinc per day in diet of a human adult (16). Zinc deficiency produces profound physiological changes. Growth retardation, loss of taste acuity, skin ulcers, and sexual dysfunction has demonstrated in human studies as resulting from a deficiency of zinc. A deficiency is common in many diseases, including anemia, cancer and atherosclerosis. Patients with rosacea who attended the outpatient Clinic of Dermatology and Venereology in Baghdad Teaching Hospital were recruited into this. A disease severity score was calculated for each patient. The patients were randomly allocated to receive either zinc sulfate 100 mg or identical placebo capsules three times per day. Zinc sulfate and placebo capsules were given in a double-blind manner; following three months of starting the treatment. The patients crossed over, i.e. patients on placebo crossed over to zinc sulfate and those on zinc sulfate crossed over to placebo(17), and make study for acquired zinc deficiency disease of skin, two patients, who were on long term parenteral hyperalimentation, developed skin lesions similar to those seen in acrodermatitis enteropathica. Both patients were treated with oral zinc sulphate and their skin lesions cleared completely. These patients are presented as an acquired zinc deficiency syndrome (18). In this work atomic absorption spectrophotometer, was used for measure the concentration of zinc in serum of human volunteers before and after treatment with 50 mg zinc sulphate tablet, and study the others parameters which affect the bioavailability of zinc in human body.