title: A double-blind trial of zinc supplementation in pregnancy.
abstract: A double-blind randomised trial of oral zinc supplementation was carried out during the last two trimesters of pregnancy. Fifty-six women at risk of delivering a small-for-gestational-age baby received either zinc supplement (22.5 mg daily) or placebo. Twenty-nine of the women were compliant. Zinc significantly reduced the incidence of intrauterine growth retardation, and most measured indices of labour and fetal health were better in the supplemented group. Larger studies are now needed to confirm a role for selective zinc supplementation in at-risk pregnancies.
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Rayne Institute, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Simmer
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lort-Phillips
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D015032:Zinc