Plasma zinc and copper concentrations in pregnant Nigerian women and newborn.

Plasma zinc and copper concentrations were determined in a group of pregnant Nigerian women at various stages of gestation. The levels of these trace elements were also determined in paired maternal and cord blood at delivery. The results showed that the plasma levels rose with increase in gestation from 94.8 (+/- 20.6) micrograms/100 ml in the first trimester to 161.6 (+/- 22.4) micrograms/100 ml at term. This rise is statistically very significant (P less than 0.001). Conversely, there was a fall in the plasma zinc concentrations with increase in gestation--from 77.2 (+/- 14.8) micrograms/100 ml in the first trimester to 65.8 (+/- 15.3) micrograms/100 ml at term. However, this fall is not significant at the 5% level. The mean concentration of copper in the maternal blood at delivery was about three times the mean concentration of 54.6 (+/- 20.8) micrograms/100 ml found in the corresponding paired cord blood. There were no statistically significant differences in zinc concentrations found in maternal and paired cord blood at delivery. Statistically significant correlations were found between copper zinc concentrations and fetal birth weight.