title: Serum Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc and Copper Levels in Sudanese Women with Preeclampsia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the exact pathophysiology of preeclampsia is not fully understood, several elemental micronutrient abnormalities have been suggested to play a contributory role in preeclampsia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the levels of calcium, magnesium, zinc and copper in women with preeclampsia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study was conducted in Omdurman Maternity Hospital, Sudan, during the period of September through December 2014. The cases were women with preeclampsia while healthy pregnant women were the controls. The medical and obstetrics history was gathered using questionnaires. The serum levels of calcium, magnesium, zinc and copper were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference between the two groups in their age, gestational age, parity and body mass index. Zinc and copper levels were not significantly different between the two groups. In comparison with the controls, women with preeclampsia had a significantly lower median (inter-quartile) serum calcium [7.6 (4.0─9.6) vs. 8.1 (10.6─14.2), mg/dl, P = 0.032] and higher levels of magnesium [1.9 (1.4─2.5) vs. 1.4 (1.0─1.9) mg/dl; P = 0.003]. In binary logistic regression, lower calcium (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.56 ─ 0.95, P = 0.021) and higher magnesium (OR = 5.724, 95% CI = 1.23 ─ 26.50, P = 0.026) levels were associated with preeclampsia. There were no significant correlations between levels of hemoglobin and these trace elements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study showed significant associations between preeclampsia and serum levels of calcium and magnesium.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, El Imam El Mahdi University, Kosti, Sudan.
authors.forename: Abdelmageed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elmugabil
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Alneelain University, Khartoum, Sudan.
authors.forename: Hamdan Z
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Hamdan
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Omdurman University, Omdurman, Sudan.
authors.forename: Anas E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Elsheikh
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.
authors.forename: Duria A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Rayis
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.
authors.forename: Ishag
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5031-7741
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Alneelain University, Khartoum, Sudan.
authors.forename: Gasim I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Gasim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013397:Sudan; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D008274:Magnesium; D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium