title: [Effects of zinc deficiency in pregnancy on the mother and the newborn infant].
abstract: There seems to be a zinc deficiency during pregnancy in view of the low serum zinc levels, but especially low zinc levels in hair and leucocytes. The need for zinc supplements is still ill-defined but represents at least 5 mg per day which are not covered by the diet and taken from the maternal reserves. Therefore the risk of deficiency is real and its manifestations are numerous. There is a risk of spontaneous abortion, gravidic toxemia, treatment-resistant anemia, abnormally prolonged gestation and difficult delivery for the mother. As for the fetus, with zinc deficiency there is a risk of hypotrophism and malformations with potentialization of the teratogenic effect of alcohol and many medications. Besides, in animals, zinc deficiency during pregnancy results in late effects several months after birth: decrease immunity, learning or memory disorders. In view of all these consequences, administration of supplements is imperative and must be evaluated providing that it does not exceed 50 mg of zinc per day. Besides, it seems preferable to provide balanced multisupplements in minerals and vitamins, since supplement in iron alone results in zinc deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biochimie C, CHRU de Grenoble.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Favier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Favier
mesh_terms: D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism*; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D015032:Zinc / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015032:Zinc
vernacular_title: Conséquences des déficits en zinc durant la grossesse pour la mère et le nouveau-né.