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Serum copper and zinc concentration in premature and small-for-date infants
Insights
Serum copper and zinc levels in newborns correlate with gestational age. In low birth weight infants, copper levels rise while zinc levels fall in the first 60 days.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal nutrition
- Trace element metabolism
- Pediatric biochemistry
Background:
- Serum copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are essential trace elements for neonatal development.
- Gestational age (GA) and birth weight influence neonatal trace element status.
- Understanding these dynamics is crucial for optimizing infant health and growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between serum Cu and Zn concentrations and gestational age in neonates.
- To compare serum Cu and Zn levels between appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and small-for-gestational age (SGA) infants.
- To track the changes in serum Cu and Zn concentrations in preterm infants with low birth weight over the first 60 days of life.
Main Methods:
- Serum Cu and Zn concentrations were measured in neonates.
- Infants were categorized by birth weight for gestational age (AGA vs. SGA) and gestational age (term vs. preterm).
- Longitudinal measurements were taken for low birth weight infants (<1500 g) up to 60 days postnatal age.
Main Results:
- Serum Cu showed a positive correlation with GA at 7 days (r=0.63), while Zn showed a negative correlation (r=-0.62).
- No significant differences in Cu and Zn levels were observed between AGA and SGA infants at 7 days, regardless of term or preterm status.
- In low birth weight AGA infants, serum Cu increased and serum Zn decreased significantly from 7 to 60 days.
- Serum Zn concentration correlated positively with daily Zn intake in low birth weight infants.
Conclusions:
- Gestational age is a significant factor in determining serum Cu and Zn levels in early neonatal life.
- While initial levels may be similar between AGA and SGA infants, distinct metabolic trajectories for Cu and Zn emerge in low birth weight infants.
- Monitoring and nutritional support for trace elements are vital for preterm and low birth weight neonates.
Abstract:
Serum copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) concentrations were measured in neonates with an appropriate birth weight for gestational age (AGA) and in small-for-gestational age infants. At 7 days of age, there was a positive correlation between serum Cu concentration and gestational age (GA) (r = 0.63; P < 0.001) and a negative correlation between Zn concentration and GA (r = 0.62; P < 0.01). At 7 days of age, the mean (+/- S.E.) concentrations in AGA full-term infants (Cu, 79 +/- 8 microgram/dl; Zn, 84 +/- 4) were similar to those in small-for-gestational age, full-term infants (Cu, 78 +/- 6 microgram/dl; Zn, 85 +/- 12). In preterm infants, there was also no difference between AGA and small-for-gestational age infants. In 23 AGA infants with a birth weight of less than 1500 g, serum Cu concentration increased from 51 +/- 7 microgram/dl at the age of 7 days to 86 +/- 7 microgram/dl at the age of 60 days (paired t-test: P < 0.05) whereas serum Zn concentration decreased from 149 +/- 9 to 91 +/- 5 microgram/dl (P < 0.01). A positive correlation was found between serum Zn concentration and daily intake of Zn (n = 39; r = 0.3458; P < 0.05), but no correlation was found for serum Cu concentration. The evolution of serum Cu and Zn concentration with total age (GA + postnatal age) in the infants with a low birth weight (i.e., < 1500 g) was similar to the evolution with GA.