Holt A B, Spargo R M, Iveson J B, Faulkner G S, Cheek D B
Am J Clin Nutr. 1980 Jan;33(1):119-32. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/33.1.119.
Two aboriginal communities situated in the tropical north-west of the Australian continent have been investigated in regard to trace metal status (zinc, copper, and iron) and other laboratory and epidemiological information. A total of 364 persons, ranging in age from 5 to 77 years were studied. The incidence of hypozincemia (serum or plasma zinc concentration less than 0.71 micrograms/ml) of the two communities when combined was 24.4%, while hypercupremia (defined as serum or plasma copper levels greater than 1.38 micrograms/ml) was 47.9%. Depressed serum iron levels were demonstrated in more than 50% of the Aborigines studied. Hypozincemia was most prevalent (incidence 31 to 67%) in children at the time of the important pre- and postadolescent growth period (10 to 15 years) and in women beyond 60 years of age (incidence 33 to 64%). Serum total protein and vitamin B12 levels tended to be increased. Mild anemia was seen in approximately one in five persons aged less than 20 years. Intestinal parasites and pathogenic enterobacteria were frequently isolated in fecal specimens. In one community, half of the persons examined had positive isolates of enteric pathogens. Intestinal parasites predominated and were more frequently isolated from persons aged less than 20 years. Ancylostoma duodenale accounted for 32% of the pathogens isolated. Evidence is presented that suggests that both communities are exposed to numerous bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections. The diet consumed in these communities is predominately white flour and refined sugar. Geophagia is practiced in this area of Australia. It is emphasied that all the etiological prerequisites and many of the laboratory findings ascribed to the zinc deficiency syndrome appear to be operating in the two Aboriginal communities studied.
对位于澳大利亚大陆热带西北部的两个原住民社区进行了关于微量元素状况（锌、铜和铁）以及其他实验室和流行病学信息的调查。共研究了364人，年龄在5至77岁之间。两个社区合并后的低锌血症（血清或血浆锌浓度低于0.71微克/毫升）发生率为24.4%，而高铜血症（定义为血清或血浆铜水平高于1.38微克/毫升）发生率为47.9%。在超过50%的被研究原住民中发现血清铁水平降低。低锌血症在青春期前后重要生长阶段（10至15岁）的儿童以及60岁以上女性中最为普遍（发生率为31%至67%），60岁以上女性中的发生率为33%至64%。血清总蛋白和维生素B12水平往往升高。在年龄小于20岁的人群中，约五分之一的人有轻度贫血。粪便标本中经常分离出肠道寄生虫和致病性肠道细菌。在一个社区，接受检查的人中一半肠道病原体分离呈阳性。肠道寄生虫占主导，且在年龄小于20岁的人群中更常被分离出来。十二指肠钩口线虫占分离出的病原体的32%。有证据表明，这两个社区都受到多种细菌、病毒和寄生虫感染。这些社区的饮食主要是白面粉和精制糖。澳大利亚这个地区有食土癖。需要强调的是，在这两个被研究的原住民社区中，似乎具备锌缺乏综合征的所有病因学前提条件以及许多实验室检查结果。
