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Zinc and perinatal growth
E Doménech1, N M Díaz-Gómez, F Barroso
1Department of Paediatrics. University Hospital of the Canaries, Faculty of Medicine, University of La Laguna, 38320, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, La Laguna, Spain. edomenec@ull.es
Insights
Perinatal nutrition impacts insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels. Zinc and osteocalcin levels were lower in small for gestational age (SGA) infants during early postnatal life, indicating nutritional influences on growth and bone turnover.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal nutrition and growth
- Endocrinology and metabolism
- Pediatric bone health
Background:
- Perinatal growth is influenced by nutritional status.
- Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), osteocalcin, and zinc are key markers of growth and bone metabolism.
- Understanding these relationships is crucial for optimizing infant development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interrelation between zinc, IGF-I, osteocalcin, and perinatal growth.
- To compare these markers in preterm appropriate for gestational age (AGA), full-term SGA, and full-term AGA newborns.
Main Methods:
- Measurements of anthropometric variables, serum IGF-I, osteocalcin, and zinc.
- Study included preterm AGA, full-term SGA, and full-term AGA neonates.
- Data collected at birth, 1 week, and 3 weeks postpartum.
Main Results:
- Full-term SGA infants exhibited lower IGF-I at birth.
- Subcutaneous fat was reduced in full-term SGA and preterm AGA infants at 1 week.
- Full-term SGA infants showed lower osteocalcin and zinc levels at 1 week, with zinc remaining low at 3 weeks.
Conclusions:
- Perinatal nutrition significantly affects IGF-I levels.
- Low osteocalcin in SGA infants suggests reduced bone turnover.
- Serum zinc levels progressively decrease postnatally, particularly in full-term SGA infants.
Aim:
To study the relationship between zinc, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I), osteocalcin and perinatal growth.
Materials And Methods:
Anthropometric variables, serum levels of IGF-I, osteocalcin and zinc were measured in preterm (PT) appropriate for gestational age (AGA), full term (FT) small for gestational age (SGA) and FT AGA newborns at birth (n=52), at first week (n=38) and at third week (n=38) of postnatal age.
Results:
At birth, the FT SGA had lower levels of IGF-I. At the first week after birth, both FT SGA and PT AGA infants had less deposits of subcutaneous fat; FT SGA infants also showed significantly lower osteocalcin and zinc levels. At 3 weeks of postnatal life, FT SGA infants continued to show significantly lower zinc levels. They had increased their fat deposits so that differences between groups in skinfold measurements failed to be significant. The highest levels of osteocalcin were found in PT AGA infants at the third week after birth.
Conclusions:
Perinatal nutrition influences the IGF-I levels. The low concentration of osteocalcin found in SGA infants at first week of life probably reflects decreased bone turnover. During the first weeks of life, there is a progressive decrease in the serum levels of zinc, accentuated in the FT SGA group.