Maternal and fetal plasma zinc concentration and fetal abnormality.

Plasma zinc concentration was significantly lower in the maternal blood of 54 women giving birth to congenitally abnormal babies either within 24 h or 24 months previously when compared with control mothers. Cord blood zinc concentrations in 20 congenitally abnormal babies were also lower than in the control babies. We conclude that low plasma zinc may be an associated factor in the aetiology of fetal abnormality.