Iron and zinc interactions among pregnant Nepali women

Few studies have examined the biologic impact of iron and zinc when given a t a ratio of 2:1 during pregnancy. We examined the change in serum zinc aft er 3 weeks among night blind Nepali pregnant women who were randomly assign ed to receive zinc (25 mg) or placebo, stratified by whether they received iron (60 mg) - folate (400 mug) or not. Further, we looked at change in hem oglobin (Hb) and serum ferritin concentrations by whether women had receive d iron or not, stratified by supplementation group (zinc or placebo). Women who received iron were anemic (Hb < 110 g/L) at baseline. The treatment gr oups were comparable on serum zinc and ferritin and Hb concentration at bas eline. There was a mean increase of <similar to>1.6 mu mol/L (p < 0.05) in the serum zinc concentration in women receiving zinc relative to a decline of <similar to>0.5 mu mol/L in the placebo group, which was similar both in women who received iron or not. Similarly, treatment with iron resulted in significant increases in Hb of 4.8 g/L and 7.8 g/L, and in serum ferritin of 12.2 mug/L and 13.6 mug/L among those in the zinc and placebo groups, re spectively. However, there was some evidence that zinc supplementation may adversely effect iron status among women with initial Hb of <85 g/L. This a nalysis shows an overall lack of a negative iron-zinc interaction when give n at a ratio of 2:1. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.