Zinc, RBC

Overview:

Serum zinc is an imperfect measure of zinc status. It falls during inflammation and infection, drops after eating, and varies through the day, so a low result does not necessarily mean stores are low. Measuring zinc inside red blood cells reduces those influences and, because red cells circulate for around three months, reflects a longer period. It is used when zinc deficiency is suspected despite an unremarkable serum result, which can occur with malabsorption, restricted diets, long-term diarrhea and high copper or iron supplementation, since these minerals compete for absorption.

Categories:

Vitamins & Nutrients, Immune

Biomarkers:

1 biomarker