[Zinc blood levels in 73 puerperal women. Correlation with obstetric and neonatal complications]

Low plasma zinc concentrations in pregnant women have been associated with certain obstetric and foetal complications. However, there is no agreement in previous studies and mediterranean populations have not been extensively studied.

The plasmatic zinc was tested in 73 mothers, within 24 hours post-partum, in order to evaluate an association between plasmatic zinc and various obstetric and fetal complications. The women were all from the Florence province and were admitted for delivery at the II Maternity Ward of the University of Florence (Third level Center); mothers of twins and foreign mothers were excluded. Subjects were consecutively included in the study. The values pointed out in a control group (n = 28) were compared with the hematic zinc of a) women who delivered by cesarean section (CS) for acute fetal distress or by operative delivery with vacuum extractor (n = 9), b,c) mothers whose children weighted over the 90th (LGA: n = 11) or under the 10th percentile (SGA: n = 13), and d) mothers who delivered prematurely (n = 12). The subjects included in two or more groups, were not considered.

The plasmatic zinc of the control group has been significantly higher than that of mothers who delivered by vacuum extractor or by urgent CS (p < 0.0001) and than that of mothers whose newborns were LGA (p < 0.0024). The hematic zinc of the control group is not higher than that of mothers with SGA or premature children.

The conclusions is drawn that even a relative zinc deficiency may negatively potentiate certain obstetric abnormalities in fetal development or in delivering.