Zinc Levels and Affecting Factors in Children and Adolescents in a Children’s Hospital

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to determine the zinc levels and the factors affecting zinc levels in children and adolescents aged 10-18. Zinc is an essential trace element that plays a critical role in various biological processes, including immune function, protein synthesis, and cell division. Adequate zinc levels are particularly important during periods of rapid growth, such as adolescence, as deficiencies can lead to impaired growth, increased susceptibility to infections, and delayed sexual maturation. Understanding the factors that influence zinc levels in this age group is crucial for developing effective nutritional and health interventions. Methods: This is a retrospective, descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study conducted with 542 children and adolescents between the ages of 10-18 to determine zinc levels. Descriptive statistics were analyzed as numbers, percentages, and mean values. Chi-square test and linear regression analysis were used in the analysis of the data. The differences were considered to be statistically significant at p < 0.05. Results: The average age of the patients is 13.64±2.63. Of the children participating in the study, 60.1% (n=326) are female and 39.9% (n=216) are male. It was determined that 12.7% (n=69) of the children had low zinc levels. There was no significant difference found between the zinc values of children according to gender (p>0.05). Although the percentage of children with low zinc levels increased as their age increased, this increase was not statistically significant (p> 0.05). Zinc level was significantly predicted by the combination of the eight variables (p<0.001). The eight variables included in the model were found to explain 5.6% of the variance in zinc level. Conclusions: It was found that zinc levels were significantly affected by LDL Cholesterol and iron. Although other variables were not significant on their own, they were found to have an impact on zinc levels when combined with LDL Cholesterol and iron. The interaction between LDL cholesterol, iron, and other variables creates a complex network affecting zinc levels in the body. We believe that monitoring and managing LDL cholesterol, iron, and zinc levels during adolescence will be beneficial in the prevention and treatment strategies of diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and chronic inflammatory conditions. We also believe that it will contribute to the development of health policies and help reduce healthcare costs.