title: Disturbed zinc metabolism and reduced birthweight related to raised maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein in normal human pregnancies.
abstract: The hypothesis was examined that altered maternal zinc metabolism is involved in the low birthweight associated with raised maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP). Mothers with clinically normal pregnancy and normally formed infant but with raised MSAFP (> 90th percentile) had lower than normal plasma zinc concentration, raised leucocyte zinc and disturbed zinc-albumin relationship. They delivered offspring with lower birthweights than did women with normal MSAFP concentration, due both to shorter pregnancy and slower intrauterine growth. These results and others identify a subgroup of mothers associated with low infant birthweight, those with raised MSAFP, who have altered zinc distribution.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Bloxam
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Waskett
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D015032:Zinc