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Journal of Clinical Pathology logoLink to Journal of Clinical Pathology
. 1983 Sep;36(9):1016–1021. doi: 10.1136/jcp.36.9.1016

Zinc and copper concentrations in leucocytes and erythrocytes in healthy adults and the effect of oral contraceptives.

L J Hinks, B E Clayton, R S Lloyd
PMCID: PMC498462  PMID: 6886018

Abstract

The content of zinc and copper of whole blood, plasma, erythrocytes and white cells, has been measured in normal controls. The concentrations of zinc and copper in leucocytes are about seven and ten times respectively higher than those in erythrocytes. Women taking oral contraceptives showed significant increases in the concentrations of copper in plasma and whole blood but not in leucocytes or erythrocytes. Oral contraceptives did not alter the concentration of zinc in any of the fractions or in whole blood. These data provide a baseline for the assessment of the body status of zinc and copper in various disease states in which deficiencies may be present.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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