Zinc and IGF-I concentrations in pregnant women with anemia before and after supplementation with iron and/or zinc.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of our study was to investigate zinc (Zn) status and effects of Zn supplementation in relation to insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women. The role of Zn and IGF-I in hematologic abnormalities has remained unclear.


METHODS
Thirty-eight Japanese women, when examined at the second trimester of pregnancy, had hemoglobin concentrations below 11.0 g/dL and 32 of 38 had normocytic erythrocytes. These 38 women were divided into three groups, and we compared the hematological status and serum IGF-I levels before and after iron (Group A) or Zn (Group B) or iron plus Zn (Group C) supplementation.


RESULTS
The concentrations of hemoglobin (Hb) did not change in groups A and B. In group C, Hb levels were significantly increased from 10.3+/-0.3 to 11.0+/-0.6 g/dL. Furthermore, numbers of RBC and reticulocytes also increased significantly. Concentrations of iron, IGF-I and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) were increased, and concentrations of erythropoietin were decreased, but not statistically. There were significant positive correlations between increases in IGF-I and increases in Hb and RBC in the Zn administered groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Zn status to some extent can account for hematological abnormalities in pregnant women. Zn derived IGF-I has a role in the regulation of hematopoiesis in pregnant women.
Nishiyama
S
S
Department of Pediatrics, Kumamoto University, School of Medicine, Japan.
Kiwaki
K
K
Miyazaki
Y
Y
Hasuda
T
T
D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D007501:Iron / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007564:Japan; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D004338:Drug Combinations; D006454:Hemoglobins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc