Assessment of some trace elements in pregnancy

Abstract

Concentrations of various trace elements are altered during pregnancy with changes in the mother’s physiology and the requirements of growing fetus. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the level of some trace elements: Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Selenium (Se), and Chromium (Cr) of pregnant women in Ekpoma, Edo State. A total of 160 subjects were studied. One hundred and twenty were pregnant women in the three trimesters of pregnancy and 40 were control. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used to determine the zinc, iron, selenium, and chromium levels of the trace elements in the serum. The mean age (years) of the subjects in the three trimesters was 30.12 ± 5.60, 28.23 ± 5.47, and 29.04 ± 4.04, respectively. The mean gestational age (weeks) of the three trimesters was 9.94 ± 1.75, 21.27 ± 3.83, and 34.42 ± 2.90, respectively. The mean weight (Kg) in the different trimesters was 69.71 ± 14, 1 71.14 ± 14.77, and 81.46 ± 10.35, respectively. The mean ± standard deviation of zinc in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy was 79.50 ± 15.00 ug/dl, 74.50 ± 16.10 ug/dl, and 65.30 ± 14.90 ug/dl, iron was 76.00 ± 17.80 ug/dl, 63.5 ± 15.20 ug/dl, and 60.1 ± 14.40 ug/dl, selenium was 24.57 ± 2.77 ug/dl, 21.57 ± 2.77 ug/dl, and 16.60 ± 9.52 ug/dl, and chromium was 0.80 ± 0.10 ug/dl, 0.93 ± 0.87 ug/dl, and 0.56 ± 38 ug/dl, respectively. In conclusion, there was significant difference (P < 0.05) in iron, zinc, and selenium levels among the three trimesters of pregnancy and also compared with the control (122.19 ± 20.36 ug/dl, 98.34 ± 10.21 ug/dl, and 38.85 ± 4.81 ug/dl) while there was a non-significant decrease (P > 0.05) in chromium from first to third trimester of pregnancy compared with control. The practice to routine nutritional supplement such as iron, zinc, and folic acid with the aim of preventing nutritional deficiencies in pregnancy is thus recommended.