title: Four trace elements in pregnant women and their relationships with adverse pregnancy outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lack of trace elements during pregnancy is detrimental to maternal and fetal health. Our aim is to study the changes in trace element levels in Chinese pregnant women and their association with adverse pregnancy outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  1568 cases of Chinese pregnant women in remote areas were collected for a prospective cohort study. Serum copper, zinc, calcium and iron levels were measured at pre-pregnancy, 1st trimester (7w-12w), 2nd trimester (24w-28w) and 3rd trimester (35w-40w).
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) Serum copper levels was significantly higher after pregnancy than before, calcium and iron levels decreased, but zinc levels did not change significantly. (2) Copper and zinc deficiency in pregnant women was not a common finding, but lack of iron and calcium was frequently encountered; iron deficiency was especially common in the 3rd trimester (42.27%). (3) Serum zinc and iron levels in patients who either had a miscarriage or a preterm delivery were significantly lower than in the control group (p < 0.05). In patients with premature rupture of membranes, serum zinc levels were significantly lower (p < 0.05). In patients with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), serum copper, zinc, calcium and iron were significantly lower (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Trace elements is closely associated with fetal growth and development during pregnancy. Deficiency can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, we should have a reasonable diet, replenish trace elements, therefore reducing the occurrence of adverse pregnancy outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Qingpu Branch of Fudan University Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai, China. yunyiluoyi@sina.com.
authors.forename: P-J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: F-Y
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium