SERUM, ZINC AND COPPER CONCENTRATIONS IN PREGNANT-WOMEN FROM KUWAIT

Although it is well known that plasma concentrations of certain essent ial trace elements such as zinc and copper are altered during pregnanc y, such data are not available for women in Kuwait. We analyzed the pl asma of 120 pregnant Kuwaiti women aged 19-40 years (mean age 27 +/- 5 .7 years) and 40 controls of similar age. Blood samples from the pregn ant women were collected during the first (n = 40), second (n = 40), a nd third (n = 40) trimesters. The trace elements were analyzed by flam e as well as graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results indicated that the levels of zinc decreased steadily and sign ificantly from the first trimester through the third trimester, with a reciprocal increase in the level of copper during the same period. Th us, the copper/zinc ratio increased steadily from first trimester to t he third trimester (3.5 +/- 1.8, 3.9 +/- 1.1, and 5.8 +/- 3.3, respect ively) compared to the control ratio, which was 2 +/- 1. The maximum d ecrease in zinc and maximum increase in copper were observed during we eks (35-36) of pregnancy. Such changes could be due to the requirement s of the fetus for growth. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.