Maternal plasma zinc concentrations and pregnancy outcome

Background: There is no consensus in the literature as to whether maternal zinc nutriture is associated with pregnancy outcome or fetal growth. Objective: We evaluated the associations between plasma zinc concentrations during pregnancy and various measures of pregnancy outcome and neonatal co nditions at birth. Design: We measured zinc concentrations in plasma samples obtained at a mea n of 16 wk of gestation (range: 6-34 wk) from 3448 women who were screened for a trial designed to evaluate the effect of zinc supplementation on feta l growth. Subjects were from low socioeconomic backgrounds and attended a p ublic health clinic for their prenatal care. Plasma zinc concentrations wer e compared with pregnancy outcome, including complications during pregnancy and delivery, and anthropometric measures and Apgar scores of neonates. Results: Plasma zinc concentrations declined as gestation progressed. After plasma zinc concentrations were adjusted for gestational age, they were no t significantly associated with any measure of pregnancy outcome or neonata l condition. Conclusion: We conclude that plasma zinc concentrations during the late fir st trimester to the early third trimester do not predict pregnancy outcomes in women of a low socioeconomic background.