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Mineral composition of meconium: effect of prematurity
S Haram-Mourabet1, R G Harper, R A Wapnir
1Department of Pediatrics, North Shore University Hospital-New York University School of Medicine, Manhasset 11030, USA.
Insights
Meconium mineral element concentrations, including calcium, copper, iron, and phosphorus, varied with gestational age (GA) and birth weight in newborns. These findings offer insights into fetal nutritional status and potential neonatal deficiencies.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Trace Element Analysis
- Perinatal Nutrition
Background:
- Meconium composition reflects fetal exposure to various substances.
- Mineral element concentrations in neonates are crucial for development.
- Understanding fetal nutritional status is vital for high-risk infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between essential mineral element concentrations in meconium and gestational age (GA) or birth weight.
- To establish normative data for meconium mineral content.
- To assess the potential of meconium analysis for evaluating fetal nutritional status.
Main Methods:
- Meconium samples were collected from 34 singleton infants across different gestational age and birth weight groups.
- Infants were categorized into GA groups (24-28, 29-33, 34-37, 38-42 weeks) and birth weight groups (<1500g, 1500-1999g, 2000-2499g, >=2500g).
- Meconium was lyophilized and analyzed for calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, iron, and manganese concentrations.
Main Results:
- Adjusted for birth weight, higher concentrations of calcium, copper, iron, and phosphorus were observed in meconium from infants with GA 24-28 weeks compared to those with GA 38-42 weeks.
- Birth weight-adjusted copper concentration was highest in the 29-33 week GA group.
- Meconium copper concentration was higher in infants weighing <2000g compared to those weighing >=2500g.
Conclusions:
- Meconium mineral element analysis can provide normative data for assessing fetal nutritional "history".
- This noninvasive method may aid in evaluating potential neonatal deficiencies in infants with intrauterine growth retardation or complicated intrauterine courses.
- Meconium analysis offers a valuable tool for understanding perinatal mineral status.
Objectives:
We hypothesized that the concentration of major essential mineral elements in meconium correlate with gestational age (GA) or birth weight. To verify this premise we determined the concentration in meconium of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, iron, and manganese.
Methods:
Thirty-four appropriate for age singleton infants without major congenital anomalies were divided into four GA groups (in weeks): 24 to 28; 29 to 33; 34 to 37; 38 to 42, or in birth weight groups (in g): < 1500; 1500-1999; 2000-2499; > or = 2500. Meconium was collected until the appearance of transitional stools and lyophilized for analysis.
Results:
When adjusted for birth weight, the concentrations of calcium, copper, iron and phosphorus were higher in the meconium of 24 to 28 week GA infants than in those of the 38 to 42 week GA newborns. Birth weight adjusted copper concentration was highest in the 29 to 33 week GA group, while the remaining elements did not change across the range of GA. Meconium copper concentration in infants born with < 2000 g was higher than in those born with a weight > or = 2500 g.
Conclusions:
These results could serve as normative data of a noninvasive examination of the mineral nutritional "history" of the fetus, and, eventually, to better evaluate possible neonatal deficiencies in infants with intrauterine growth retardation or other types of complicated intrauterine courses.