Serum trace elements in Zairian mothers and their newborns.
OBJECTIVE
Pregnant women in developing countries might be at risk of trace element deficiencies. These deficiencies could have deleterious effects on fetus. Therefore, serum trace elements were determined at delivery in Zairian mothers and their newborns.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Maternity ward of Kinshasa University Hospital (Zaire).


METHODS
166 pregnant women admitted for delivery and their newborns.


METHODS
Zinc, copper and selenium were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Haematocrit, lymphocyte count, transferrin, ferritin and anthropometric indices (birth weight, length, head and arm circumferences; mother weight) were also evaluated.


RESULTS
Serum selenium concentrations were high [mothers: 0.76-1.56 mumol/l (60-124 micrograms/l), newborns: 0.45-1.21 mumol/l (36-96 micrograms/l)]; zinc concentrations were low [mothers: 3.9-11.9 mumol/l (253-773 micrograms/l), newborns: 5.8-17.4 mumol/l (378-1130 micrograms/l)] and copper concentrations were in the range of previous works [mothers: 16.2-49.0 mumol/l (1020-3088 micrograms/l), newborns: 0.7-14.3 mumol/l (44-900 micrograms/l)]. Mother serum indices, age, weight and parity had little influence on newborn serum trace elements. In umbilical serum, copper was correlated to selenium (r = 0.340, P < 0.01); selenium (r = 0.310, P < 0.001) and copper (r = 0.404, P < 0.001) were correlated to transferrin. Newborn selenium (r = 0.310, P < 0.001) and copper (r = 0.257, P < 0.01) concentrations were related to head circumference. Newborn selenium concentration varied according to birth weight [< 2500 g: 0.58-0.86 mumol/l (45-67 micrograms/l); > 2500 g: 0.48-1.20 mumol/l (37-94 micrograms/l). Umbilical serum copper concentration was related to birth length (r = 0.197, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that: (1) copper and selenium status at delivery in Zairian mothers are similar to those in developed countries, whereas zinc status is poor; (2) trace element and nutritional status in the mother and fetus are independent.
Arnaud
J
J
Laboratoire de Biochimie C, CHU de Grenoble, France.
Preziosi
P
P
Mashako
L
L
Galan
P
P
Nsibu
C
C
Favier
A
A
Kapongo
C
C
Hercberg
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood*; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
D014131:Trace Elements; D003300:Copper; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc