title: [Low zinc and high copper levels in mothers of children with isolated cleft lip and palate].
abstract: Changes in orofacial development have been reported in offspring of animals treated with copper injections or low zinc diet during pregnancy. The aim of our study was to determine serum levels of zinc and copper in mothers of children with non-syndromic orofacial clefts and in women who gave birth to healthy children. Ninety six healthy women participated in the study: 35 mothers of children with cleft lip and cleft palate (CLP), 30 mothers of children with cleft palate (CP) and 31 control mothers of healthy children. Serum zinc and copper concentrations were determined by the use of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between CLP and controls there were significant differences in mean zinc levels (511 +/- 121 microg/L vs 572 +/- 76 microg/L, p = 0.012) and copper levels (991 +/- 388 microg/L vs 810 +/- 201 microg/L, p = 0.02). In CP mean serum zinc and copper levels were 540 +/- 130 microg/L and 846 +/- 291 microg/L. The ratio of serum zinc to copper levels was significantly lower in CLP comparing to CP and controls (0.57 +/- 0.19 vs 0.67 +/- 0.18 and 0.74 +/- 0.19, p = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that trace elements may play a role in facial clefting in humans.
authors.affiliation: Kliniki Pediatrii Instytutu Matki i Dziecka w Warszawie.
authors.forename: Kamil K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Hozyasz
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruszczyńska
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bulska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc