title: Trace element status and early physical growth of exclusively breastfed normal and asphyxiated Nigerian babies.
abstract: Serial anthropometry and assay of plasma iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) were done on 72 babies with birth asphyxia during the first six months of life to assess the pattern of their physical growth and trace element status, respectively. Eighty-seven non-asphyxiated babies served as controls. The mothers of babies in both groups also had their plasma assayed for Fe, Zn and Cu immediately following delivery. Asphyxiated babies were lighter than non-asphyxiated controls during the first two months of life and they also had smaller mean occipito-frontal circumference at birth. While Fe, Zn and Cu status was generally comparable in both groups, the newborn Cu concentrations were very low compared with earlier reports. No baby showed any overt signs of trace element deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Adeodu
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Jegede
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Oyedeji
mesh_terms: D001034:Apgar Score; D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D001724:Birth Weight; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002508:Cephalometry; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007228:Infant Nutrition Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009752:Nutritional Status; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc