Zinc Content in the Hair of Older Age Groups Living in the European North (Petrozavodsk)

Zinc deficiency in the human body occurs when there is a lack of this trace element in food and water, which is especially important for the territories of the North that belong to biogeochemical provinces. The surface waters of the Republic of Karelia are ultra fresh and low mineralized. In this work, the zinc content in the hair of the older age group of residents of the Republic of Karelia (Petrozavodsk) is determined and the prevalence of this deficiency is assessed. To conduct the study, the method of atomic emission spectrometry and mass spectrometry with inductively coupled argon plasma are used. To assess the severity of hypozincosis, we use a point scale corresponding to the degree of deviation of the zinc content from the reference values. Hypozincosis is typical for 74.5% of the subjects, and a zinc deficiency was significantly more typical for people over 60 years of age than for young people aged 20–25 years. It is shown that the first degree of deviation of the level of zinc in hair in the direction of either a decrease or an excess of the concentration of the element compared to the reference values is the most common, which is regarded as a “predisease” state. Moreover, in the age group of 20–25 years, an excess of zinc is significantly more often diagnosed, and in people over 60 years old, a deficiency of this element is diagnosed. No gender differences are found in zinc deficiency. It is assumed that the natural, ecological, and social living conditions of this region are the cause of the development of hypozincosis. It is likely that people of older age groups living in the territories of the European North require the additional intake of mineral complexes. The composition of such multimineral complexes must necessarily include zinc, and in greater quantities than is recommended for residents of central Russia.