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Zinc supplementation during pregnancy: a double blind randomised controlled trial
B Jønsson1, B Hauge, M F Larsen
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kolding Hospital, Denmark.
Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica
|September 1, 1996
Summary
Zinc supplementation during pregnancy did not improve maternal or fetal outcomes in a Danish study. This controlled trial found no significant benefits for pregnant women or their babies from taking zinc supplements.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Nutritional Science
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Maternal nutrition is crucial for optimal pregnancy outcomes.
- Zinc is an essential micronutrient vital for fetal development and maternal health.
- The role of zinc supplementation in pregnancy requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if zinc supplementation during pregnancy positively impacts maternal and fetal health outcomes.
- To assess the efficacy of zinc in preventing adverse pregnancy complications.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 1206 pregnant women.
- Participants were randomly assigned to receive either zinc supplements (44 mg/day) or placebo tablets.
- Outcomes measured included large/small for gestational age, premature rupture of membranes, preterm labor, preeclampsia, and bleeding.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant differences were observed in any of the measured maternal or fetal outcome parameters between the zinc and placebo groups.
- Zinc supplementation did not reduce the incidence of complications such as preeclampsia or preterm labor.
Conclusions:
- Zinc supplementation in pregnancy does not appear to offer benefits for maternal or fetal outcomes in a healthy, middle-class population in Denmark.
- Further research may be needed to explore potential benefits in populations with different nutritional statuses or specific risk factors.