the Science of the Total Environment The Scienceof the Total Environment 201(1997) 31-38 Serum copper in institutionalized elderly subjects: relations with dietary intake of energy, specific nutrients and haematological parameters C. GBmeza, R. Artacho”.*, M.D. Ruiz-Lbpez”, M. Navarroa, A. Puertab, M.C. Lbpez” “Departamento de Nutrkibn y Bromatologia Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Granada, E-18071 Granada, Spain bPoliclinica Granada, Granada, Spain Received 19 December 1996; accepted 19March 1997 Abstract The concentrations of serumcopperwere determinedas an indicator of corporal statusof Cu and its relation to agingin 93 institutionalized elderly subjects (24 men and 69 women)in Granada (Spain). We found that agingdoes not affect serum Cu levelsin the two age groups includedin the study: Group I < 80 years and Group II 2 80 years. Application of linear regression analysis to the serumCu levels and the intake of energy,fibre, iron and magnesium showeda statistically significant negative correlation (P < 0.05) among them in all the subjects.However, no correlation was observed when the serumCu levels were related to the intake of zinc or vitamin C. Therefore, at the daily intake levels of thesetwo nutrients, they do not interfere in the absorptionof copper and hence do not affect the corporal status of this element in the elderly. Blood erythrocyte and haemoglobin concentrations do not showany significantcorrelation with the serumCu concentrations (P > 0.05). 0 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. Keywords: Copper; Elderly people;Daily intake 1. Introduction Copper is an essential trace element for the human organism, forming part of many enzymes * Corresponding author. Fax: + 3458243869. involved in oxide-reduction processes (Johnson and Fischer, 1992; Jacob and Milne, 1993). Of these enzymes, the superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) plays an important role in the protection of the organism against free radicals and is there- fore related to the aging process (Mertz et al., 19891, although the effects of the Cu status in this 004%9697/97/$17.00 0 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PI1 SOO48-9697(97) 00085-5