Hair and serum calcium, iron, copper, and zinc levels during normal pregnancy at three trimesters

The hair and serum levels of calcium, iron, copper, and zinc levels were me asured in a group of 70 healthy pregnant women and in 66 age-matched health y controls living in the Tianjin city of the People's Republic of China. The study subjects were classified into three subgroups according to gestat ional age. The hair concentrations were measured by X-ray fluorescence spec trometry, whereas those in sera were established by atomic absorption spect rometry. The hair concentrations of Ca, Fe, Cu, and Zn in the three groups of gravida were lower or significantly lower than those in controls. In ser a, the differences did not show statistical significance in most cases. A deficiency of calcium was observed in subjects in the last trimester of g estation. This reinforces the importance of supplementation with calcium du ring pregnancy.