title: A Prospective Study of Serum Trace Elements in Healthy Korean Pregnant Women.
abstract: This prospective study sought to investigate serum levels of trace elements (cobalt, copper, zinc, and selenium) and to assess their effects on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. Serum levels of trace elements in 245 Korean pregnant women (median gestational age at delivery was 39 + 4 weeks and interquartile range was 38 + 4-40 + 1 weeks) were compared with those of 527 general adults and those of previous studies in other ethnic groups. Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, neonatal birth weight, and congenital abnormalities were assessed. The median serum trace element concentrations of all pregnant women were: cobalt: 0.39 μg/L (interquartile range, IQR 0.29-0.53), copper: 165.0 μg/dL (IQR 144.0-187.0), zinc: 57.0 μg/dL (IQR 50.0-64.0), and selenium: 94.0 μg/L (IQR 87.0-101.0). Serum cobalt and copper concentrations were higher in pregnant women than in the general population, whereas zinc and selenium levels were lower (p< 0.01). Concentrations of all four trace elements varied significantly during the three trimesters (p< 0.05), and seasonal variation was found in copper, zinc, and selenium, but was not observed for cobalt. The prevalence of preeclampsia was significantly lower with high copper (p= 0.03). Trace element levels varied by pregnancy trimester and season, and alteration in copper status during pregnancy might influence pregnancy outcomes such as preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Genetics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul 06351, Korea. rihwa.choi@samsung.com.
authors.forename: Rihwa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Statistics and Data Center, Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul 06351, Korea. jiyu.sun@sbri.co.kr.
authors.forename: Jiyu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Statistics and Data Center, Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul 06351, Korea. heejin.yoo@sbri.co.kr.
authors.forename: Heejin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Statistics and Dater Center, Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul 06351, Korea. seonwoo1.kim@samsung.com.
authors.forename: Seonwoo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Thyroid Center, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul 06351, Korea. yoonung2@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Yoon Young
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Thyroid Center, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul 06351, Korea. eyedr53@schmc.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Hye Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Thyroid Center, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul 06351, Korea. sunwooksmc.kim@samsung.com.
authors.forename: Sun Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Thyroid Center, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul 06351, Korea. jaeh.chung@samsung.com.
authors.forename: Jae Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul 06351, Korea. ohsymd.oh@samsung.com.
authors.forename: Soo-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Genetics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul 06351, Korea. sy117.lee@samsung.com.|Department of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Samsung Medical Center, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul 06351, Korea. sy117.lee@samsung.com.
authors.forename: Soo-Youn
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003035:Cobalt / Q000097:blood; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters / Q000097:blood; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012621:Seasons; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014131:Trace Elements; D003035:Cobalt; D003300:Copper; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc
keywords: cobalt; copper; pregnancy; selenium; trace elements; zinc