Zinc content of red and white blood cells in aboriginal children.

Studies were carried out on erythrocyte, granulocyte and lymphocyte zinc content of aboriginal children at the La Grange settlement in the north-west area of the Kimberley. Forty-eight children, 34 boys and 14 girls between 6 and 13 years were studied. Only the boys were investigated for white blood cell (WBC) zinc. Twenty-five Caucasian children volunteered to give blood for control studies. Two approaches were made concerning zinc analyses, atomic absorption spectroscopy and proton induced x-ray emission. It was found that lymphocyte, granulocyte and erythrocyte zinc content were significantly reduced in aboriginal boys aged 6 to 13 years. Since the turnover of white blood cells is relatively fast, it follows that the zinc content of these cells may be a true index of current zinc status confirming previous observations.