title: Copper, zinc and iron levels in infants and their mothers during the first year of life: a prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Essential micronutrients are important for maintenance of life. Deficiency of micronutrients is more likely to be encountered in children, and women studies are required to investigate the status of micronutrients in children and women. This study aimed to longitudinally evaluate changes in zinc, copper, and iron levels in breastfed infants and their mothers during the first year of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum and hair samples were obtained from 35 healthy breastfed infants (51% males, 49% females) and their mothers 2, 6, and 12 months after delivery. All of the samples were assessed using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Serum iron levels were determined by a Roche/Hitachi/Modular analyzer. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS-PC (Version 21.00) software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hair zinc (p < 0.05) and serum iron (p < 0.001) levels of infants were significantly decreased towards the end of the first year. Infants' serum copper levels were increased towards the end of the first year. Maternal serum and hair copper levels and serum iron levels were significantly decreased towards the end of the first year. There were no significant correlations between dietary zinc, copper, iron intake, and trace element levels of infants and their mothers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infants' hair zinc levels, maternal and infants' hair copper levels, and infants' and maternal serum iron levels declined towards the end of the first year. Infants need more zinc after 6 months of age. Infants' and mothers' daily iron intake was less than the recommended intake.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Trace Element Unit, 34093, Istanbul, Turkey. tulozden@istanbul.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Tülin Ayşe
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Özden
authors.affiliation: Institute of Child Health and Istanbul School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, Istanbul University, 34093, Istanbul, Turkey. gokcay@superonline.com.
authors.forename: Gülbin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gökçay
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul University, 34093, Istanbul, Turkey. mscantez@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: M Serdar
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cantez
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul University, 34093, Istanbul, Turkey. ozlem.durmaz@windowslive.com.
authors.forename: Özlem
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Durmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul University, 34093, Istanbul, Turkey. halimissever@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Halim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: İşsever
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul University, 34093, Istanbul, Turkey. beyomer@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Beyhan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ömer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Child Health and Istanbul School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, Istanbul University, 34093, Istanbul, Turkey. sanerg@istanbul.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Günay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000378:metabolism*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D009035:Mothers; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D055815:Young Adult; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc