Maternal-fetal status of copper, iron, molybdenum, selenium and zinc in insulin-dependent diabetic pregnancies.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to assess the status of essential trace elements such as copper, iron, molybdenum, selenium and zinc in insulin-dependent diabetic pregnancies at term and to compare the data with a control group. Fetal-maternal ratios of the elements and copper:zinc ratio were also computed in the control and study populations.


METHODS
Samples from maternal vein, umbilical artery and umbilical vein of diabetic and control women were collected at the time of spontaneous delivery or cesarean section and activities of trace elements evaluated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.


RESULTS
Cu, Fe, Mo, Se and Zn concentrations in maternal venous blood averaged 2,156, 2,020, 13, 102 and 656 microg/l in control women (n=17) while in the diabetic group (n=14), the corresponding values for the trace elements averaged 3,135, 3,675, 15, 85 and 628 microg/l respectively. Values for copper and molybdenum were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the study group compared to control while those of zinc, iron and selenium were not significantly different (p>0.05). Iron and molybdenum values were significantly higher (p<0.05) and that of zinc significantly lower (p<0.05) in umbilical arterial samples of diabetic group compared to controls. In the case of molybdenum, copper the values were significantly higher (p<0.05) in umbilical venous samples of diabetic group compared to that of control. Significant differences in Cu:Zn ratio of maternal venous and umbilical samples and fetal-maternal ratios of some elements were noted between control and study group as well.


CONCLUSIONS
We speculate that altered status of some essential trace elements and altered antioxidant mineral ratio observed in insulin dependent diabetic patients could have deleterious influences on the health of the mother as well as the fetus and newborn.
Al-Saleh
Eyad
E
Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kuwait, PO Box 24923, 13110 Safat, Kuwait. DR.EYAD@lycos.com
Nandakumaran
Moorkath
M
Al-Shammari
Majed
M
Makhseed
Maasoumah
M
Sadan
Teena
T
Harouny
Assem
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008875:Middle Aged; D008982:Molybdenum / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000097:blood*; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood*; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
D014131:Trace Elements; D003300:Copper; D008982:Molybdenum; D007501:Iron; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc