Abstract
Serum zinc, β-carotene, vitamin A and vitamin C concentrations were determined in 20 subjects over 65 years of age. Simultaneously, lymphocyte subset with monoclonal antibodies and lymphocyte response to concanavalin A were also studied.
High serum zinc concentration correlated with increased helper T (OKT4) lymphocytes, T cell concanavalin A response and decrease suppressor T (OKT8) lymphocytes. High β-carotene concentration correlated with increased zinc and vitamin C level in blood.
It is important to determine blood zinc concentration in the elderly patients.
