Abstract
The mean dietary zinc intake of 25 young adult women was calculated to be 6.5+1.4mg/day (0.125±0.030mg/day/kg body weight) from the results of a 7-day food consumption survey and our own data-base on the zinc contents of food. Zinc intake showed high positive correlations with intake of protein (γ=0.800), phosphorus (γ=0.799) and iron (γ=0.736). The low zinc intake in these subjects was attributable to their low level of food consumption (mean daily energy intake, 1, 648±281kcal) and their preferred consumption of low-zinc foods such as beverages, vegetables, milk and fruit. The mean plasma zinc concentration was 749±94pg/l, and mean daily urinary excretion of zinc was 366±107μg. There were no significant correlations between zinc intake (per kg body weight) and plasma zinc level, or between zinc intake and urinary zinc level.
