OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional status of zinc in 12 female volleyball players. METHODS: Zinc levels in plasma and erythrocytes were assessed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Zinc intake of 12 professional female athletes of a volleyball team from Curitiba, PR, aging from 18 to 24 years in 2003, was determined by a 3-day food record. RESULTS: All athletes presented normal plasma zinc values. Erythrocyte zinc was lower than normal in 100% of the athletes. Dietary intake of zinc was adequate in 83.33%. The significant decreases in erythrocyte content could represent the acute effects of prolonged exercises which increases superoxide dismutase or carbonic anhydrase utilization. CONCLUSION: The athletes' zinc nutritional status seemed to be inadequate. They had normal plasma zinc levels but the erythrocyte zinc was below the normal values for all of them.
zinc; nutritional status; nutrition assessment; sports
