Zinc, vitamin B-6, and other nutrients in pregnant women attending prenatal clinics in Mexico.
Biochemical measurements and 24-h dietary recalls were conducted early (18.9 +/- 5.9 wk) and late (35.1 +/- 2.0 wk) in pregnancy in women attending clinics in Montemorelos, Mexico. Mean weight gain per week (0.4 +/- 0.2 kg) and birth weight (3381 +/- 456 g) were normal. Intakes tended to decline during pregnancy and declined significantly for zinc (p less than 0.05) and vitamin B-6 (p less than 0.03). Mean Zn intake late in pregnancy was low (7.8 +/- 3.3 mg/d). Various supplements were taken but none contained Zn. During pregnancy mean plasma Zn levels fell (p less than 0.001) and late in pregnancy 57% of the women had values suggestive of poor Zn status (less than or equal to 8.1 mumol/L). These data indicate that Zn intakes of approximately 8 mg/d will not maintain plasma Zn levels in late pregnancy. Erythrocyte glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (EGPT) index and the index of diamine oxidase (DAO), a vitamin B-6-requiring enzyme of placental origin, were correlated suggesting that DAO index may be useful in evaluating vitamin B-6 status in pregnancy.
Hunt
I F
IF
School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles 90024.
Murphy
N J
NJ
Martner-Hewes
P M
PM
Faraji
B
B
Swendseid
M E
ME
Reynolds
R D
RD
Sanchez
A
A
Mejia
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011736:Pyridoxine / Q000097:blood*; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
D015032:Zinc; D011736:Pyridoxine