Up to now we lack serum reference values for essential trace elements, copper and zinc, in children and the adolescent age group in our population. Serum copper and zinc concentrations were analysed in a group of healthy randomly selected subjects from four regions of Slovakia. There were significant correlations between age, sex and estimated trace elements. Serum copper levels in both boys and girls are similar to those of other European countries, while zinc levels are slightly higher than found in most countries (16.17 mmol/l in boys, vs 15.66 mmol/l in girls). Copper concentrations tended to decrease with age during childhood and increase towards the end of the adolescent period. There were no sex differences of serum zinc concentration in children aged 11–14 years. Boys aged 15–17 years presented significantly higher zinc levels than girls. In boys enhancement of zinc concentrations accelerate from 14 to 17 years. Serum copper levels were negatively correlated with height in both, boys and girls. In our healthy randomly selected children and adolescents serum zinc levels and anthropometric parameters were not closely related. Reference intervals for serum trace elements reported here could represent age and sex specific reference intervals for apparently healthy Slovak children and adolescents.

        Key words: reference values, copper, zinc, children, adolescents.