Cheek D B, Smith R M, Spargo R M, Francis N
Aust N Z J Med. 1981 Oct;11(5):508-12. doi: 10.1111/j.1445-5994.1981.tb04620.x.
Three-hundred Aboriginal people five to 70 yr have been studied at three missions in the north west of Australia-Beagle Bay, Lombadina and One Arm Point. The prevalence of hypozincaemia and hypercupraemia (a departure of more than 2 S.D. from the expected normal) has been assessed. Plasma iron concentration was determined. Half of the individuals had hypozincaemia and for some age groups the prevalence was greater (almost 100% for 15 to 20-year-old females at Lombadina). Hypercupraemia was prevalent and ranged from 70 to 100% for most age groups. Hypoferraemia was detected frequently. By the use of anthropometric methods the children were found to be growth retarded and to have reduced weight for height. These people are known to be infected with intestinal parasites which cause bleeding into the bowel or malabsorption which can cause losses of zinc or failure of adsorption. They prefer unleavened bread which contains phytic acid which inhibits zinc absorption. The soil is zinc deficient and the climate conducive to large losses of zinc in sweat. Geophagia is practiced and pica is found to occur in children. Preliminary evidence of elevated copper status is available. We speculate that growth failure may be related to zinc deficiency or copper toxicity.
在澳大利亚西北部的三个传教区——比格尔湾、隆巴迪纳和单臂角，对300名年龄在5岁至70岁之间的原住民进行了研究。评估了低锌血症和高铜血症（偏离预期正常值超过2个标准差）的患病率。测定了血浆铁浓度。一半的个体患有低锌血症，在某些年龄组中患病率更高（在隆巴迪纳，15至20岁女性的患病率几乎为100%）。高铜血症很普遍，大多数年龄组的患病率在70%至100%之间。经常检测到低铁血症。通过人体测量方法发现，这些儿童生长发育迟缓，身高体重比降低。已知这些人感染了肠道寄生虫，可导致肠道出血或吸收不良，进而导致锌流失或吸收失败。他们更喜欢食用含有植酸的无酵面包，植酸会抑制锌的吸收。土壤缺锌，气候有利于锌通过汗液大量流失。存在食土癖现象，并且发现儿童有异食癖。有初步证据表明铜状态升高。我们推测生长发育不良可能与锌缺乏或铜中毒有关。
