Blood Zinc Levels in Nursing Women from Different Regions of the West Bank of Palestine

The study analyzed blood zinc levels in 72 nursing women from the West Bank of Palestine and found a median level of 4.53 mg/L. Higher blood zinc levels were associated with living in cities, higher household income, and husbands having white-collar jobs. Women who did not smoke, did not use hair dyes, and consumed energy beverages also had higher zinc levels. However, the study did not find significant associations between blood zinc levels and maternal age, parity status, lactation time, place of residence, educational levels, employment status, or consumption of coffee and tea. The use of hair dye and consumption of energy beverages were found to have a significant negative impact on blood zinc levels. The study's limitations include its small sample size and cross-sectional design, which limits the ability to establish causality. The findings suggest that sociodemographic factors can influence blood zinc levels in nursing women.