title: Serum reference levels of selenium, zinc and copper in healthy pregnant women at a prenatal screening program in southeastern Mediterranean region of Turkey.
abstract: METHODS
  The aim of the study was to investigate the serum reference range for Selenium (Se), Zinc (Zn) and Copper (Cu) levels in women of 10-14 (group I) and 16-20 (group II) weeks of gestation and compare them with those in non-pregnant healthy women and healthy men.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was performed in 351 pregnant women [group I (n: 177) and group II (n: 174)], 30 non-pregnant women and 30 men as controls. The levels of Se, Zn and Cu levels were determined on flame and furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer using Zeeman background correction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 10-14 weeks of gestation Se, Zn and Cu serum levels were 44.85+/-9.23, 81.30+/-31.94 and 132.33+/-38.24 microg/dl, in 16-20 weeks of gestation were 47.18+/-10.92, 74.25+/-22.47 and 164.86+/-39.69 microg/dl, in non-pregnant women were 55.38+/-8.81, 121.41+/-29.22 and 104.75+/-39.14 microg/dl also in men 72.24+/-9.28, 134.85+/-15.95 and 78.29+/-20.90 microg/dl, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant low level of serum Se, Zn and a high level of Cu in the pregnant women in the 10-14 and 16-20 weeks of gestation were detected when compared with that of non-pregnant women and men.
authors.affiliation: Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry Research Laboratory, Kahramanmaras, Turkey. mkilinc@ksu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kilinc
authors.forename: Ayhan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coskun
authors.forename: Fidan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bilge
authors.forename: Secil Simsek
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Imrek
authors.forename: Yalcin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Atli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012016:Reference Values; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*; D014421:Turkey; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc