LIVER RESERVES OF IRON, COPPER, AND VITAMIN-B12 IN BRAZILIAN FETUSES AND INFANTS OF DIFFERENT SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of the stag e of fetal development and of maternal socioeconomic status on liver c oncentrations and total liver reserves of iron, copper, and vitamin B- 12 in Brazilian fetuses and infants. Eighty fetuses and infants rangin g from 19 to 42 wk of gestational age were studied. Liver concentratio ns of nutrients did not vary significantly with the stage of fetal dev elopment. Therefore, increases in total liver reserves during developm ent were caused mainly by increases in liver weight. There were signif icant correlations between total liver reserves of vitamin B-12 and ir on (r = 0.742, p < 0.001), vitamin B-12 and copper (r = 0.444, p < 0.0 01), and iron and copper (r = 0.431, p < 0.001). Maternal socioeconomi c status did not affect liver nutrient concentrations or total hepatic levels at any stage of fetal development.