Maternal-fetal status of copper, iron, molybdenum, selenium and zinc in patients with gestational diabetes

The status of essential trace elements such as copper, iron, zinc, selenium and molybdenum was investigated in gestational diabetic pregnancies at term, and data were compared to control pregnancies. Fetal/maternal ratios of the elements and copper/zinc ratio were also computed in control and study populations.

Samples from maternal venous, umbilical artery and umbilical vein were collected from gestational diabetic and control pregnant women, at the time of spontaneous delivery or Cesarean section, and concentrations of various trace elements were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

The concentrations of copper, iron, molybdenum, selenium and zinc averaged 2156.2 microg/l, 2020.1 microg/l, 13.1 microg/l, 102.3 microg/l and 656.2 microg/l, respectively, in maternal venous blood in control pregnant women at term (n=15) while in the corresponding gestational diabetic group (n=15), concentrations of the trace elements averaged 2345.8 microg/l, 2061.6 microg/l, 15.0 microg/l, 75.2 microg/l and 610.3 microg/l, respectively. Student's t test showed that the selenium concentration was significantly lower (p<0.05)in the diabetic group compared to controls. Values of other elements were not significantly different. Umbilical blood/maternal blood ratios of the trace elements showed varying differences. The Cu/Zn ratio was found to be significantly different between umbilical and maternal samples of control and study groups, indicating a possibility of compromised antioxidant function in diabetic pregnancies.

We speculate that altered maternal-fetal status of some essential trace elements in gestational diabetes patients could have deleterious influences on the health of the mother as well as the fetus and newborn.