title: Plasma zinc concentration and thyroid function in hyperemetic pregnancies.
abstract: Low zinc concentrations in plasma have been reported in pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia and intra-uterine growth retardation, as well as in non-pregnant individuals with gastrointestinal and eating disorders. The present study looked at the plasma zinc concentration in hyperemetic and normal pregnant women at the same stage of gestation, as well as total thyroxin concentration in these two groups, since abnormal thyroid function is a common phenomenon in hyperemetic women. No difference in plasma zinc concentration was found between normal and hyperemetic women, which suggests that hyperemesis gravidarum is not associated with a low plasma zinc concentration. Hyperemetic women did have, however, significantly higher total thyroxin concentrations, and on further examination, a significant correlation was found between plasma zinc concentration and total and free thyroxin, free tri-iodothyronin, and human chorionic gonadotropin. The significance of our findings is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Lao
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: Y T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Panesar
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006939:Hyperemesis Gravidarum / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood*; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014284:Triiodothyronine; D015032:Zinc; D013974:Thyroxine