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Zinc nutritional status during pregnancy: a longitudinal study.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|March 1, 1983
Summary
Maternal zinc status declines during pregnancy, even with supplementation. Prenatal iron may negatively impact zinc levels, suggesting suboptimal dietary zinc intake for many pregnant women.
Area of Science:
- Human Nutrition
- Biochemistry
- Maternal Health
Background:
- Zinc is essential for fetal development and maternal health.
- Pregnancy is associated with physiological changes that can affect nutrient status.
- Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for zinc during pregnancy aim to meet increased needs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate longitudinal changes in zinc status during pregnancy.
- To assess the impact of zinc supplementation on maternal zinc status.
- To explore the relationship between zinc status and other nutrients like iron.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 46 pregnant women over monthly intervals.
- Comparison between non-supplemented and 15 mg/day zinc-supplemented groups.
- Measurement of plasma zinc concentration and serum alkaline phosphatase activity.
- Correlation analysis with prenatal iron supplementation.
Main Results:
- Plasma zinc levels declined significantly throughout gestation in non-supplemented women.
- Zinc supplementation did not significantly alter plasma zinc compared to the non-supplemented group.
- Higher alkaline phosphatase activity in supplemented group suggests improved zinc status.
- Prenatal iron supplementation showed a negative correlation with plasma zinc and alkaline phosphatase.
Conclusions:
- A progressive decline in plasma zinc occurs during gestation, independent of intake.
- Dietary zinc intake below 11.3 mg/day may be suboptimal for pregnant women.
- Prenatal iron supplementation might adversely affect maternal zinc status.