Relationship of zinc and copper concentrations in maternal and cord blood and birth weight.

Twenty and 30 Nigerian women who delivered infants weighing 1500 gm-2500 gm and more than 2500 gm, respectively, were studied. Cord and maternal blood samples collected at delivery were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry for zinc and copper content. The mean plasma zinc in maternal and cord blood was significantly lower and the mean plasma copper was significantly higher in the low-birth-weight group than in the control group. The zinc level in cord blood was higher than that in maternal blood in both groups. However, the copper level in both groups was lower in cord than in maternal blood.