Abstract
The relationships among physical growth, dietary intakes, and Zn & Cu status were investigated in total of 128 eight-year-old children selected from the primary school in Seoul. The mean weight and height were 28.3Kg and 129.6cm and the average BMI and R hrer index were 16.75 and 129.25. These values were a little higher than the ones for the average Korean children at the same age. The average serum Zn & Cu levels were 109.98$\mu\textrm{g}$/100ml and 84.13$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml. About 2.4% of the subjects had blood Zn level below the normal range and 8.6% had above the normal level. For Cu, about 43% of the subjects fell into the subnormal level. Daily dietary intakes of calorie, protein and ascorbic acid were relatively adequate but Fe, thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin were insufficient. Ca and vitamin A intakes were very poor. More than 50% of the subjects onsumed Ca and vitamin A less then 2/3 of RDA. There was no consistant relationship among the serum Zn and Cu levels, growth, and the nutrients intakes. But it was observed that serum Zn contents were higher as consumption of milks, fats and oil groups were high in the serum Zn contents were higher as consumption of milks, fats and oil groups were high in the several BMI groups, and lower in taller and heavier children within the group of 110-119% BMI rate. Therefore, it could be summarized that the Zn status of the children was favorable but the Cu status was inadequate. Serum Zn and Cu levels were found to be related to the overall quality and/or the quantity of diet and physical growth pattern of children.