Association of Zinc, Copper and Iron Levels with Birth Weight
Abstract
This study was aimed to find out relationship of maternal Zinc, Copper and Iron levels with birth weight. Epidemiological observations are that Low birth weight babies i.e. weighing less than 2,500 grams, are approximately 20 times more likely to die than heavier babies. LBWs are more common in developing than developed countries. This study was conducted on 100 new born infant and their mother. Mothers of just delivered babies were investigated for assessing serum zinc, iron and copper levels on atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Along with this cord blood samples of newborn delivered by these identified women were investigated for zinc, iron and copper levels. Simultaneously birth weight of newborns delivered by these mothers were assessed. Association of maternal Zinc, Copper and Iron with birth weight of newborn was analyzed by unpaired student'sā test of significance. It was found in this study that maternal and newborn serum Zinc and Copper level were significantly lower and higher respectively in LBWs whereas serum Iron was not associated with birth weight of infants.
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Introduction
The Low birth weight has been defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as weight at birth of less than 2,500 grams (5.5 pounds),1 This practical cut-off for international comparison is based on epidemiological observations that infants weighing less than 2,500 g are approximately 20 times more likely to die than heavier babies.2 LBWs are more common in developing than developed countries. A birth weight below 2,500 grams contributes to a range of poor health outcomes.
WHO and UNICEF published the first global, regional and country estimates of low birth weight rates in1992.3 More than 20 million infants worldwide, representing 15.5 per cent of all births are born with low birth weight, 95.6 per cent of them in developing countries. The level of low birth weight in developing countries (16.5 per cent) is more than double the level in developed regions (7 per cent). At that time, the low birth weight rate for industrialized countries was around 7 per cent, and in less developed countries it ranged between 5 and 33 per cent, with an average of 17 per cent.3 The process of monitoring progress towards international goals on low birth weight reduction led to a greater recognition of the limitations of the available data as particular the relatively small proportion of infants weighed at birth.
Conclusion
It was found in this study that maternal and newborn serum Zinc and Copper level were significantly lower and higher respectively in LBWs whereas maternal and newborn serum Iron were lower LBWs.
So it can be concluded that the trace element is Zinc and Copper that effect the growth of infant and lower mother serum zinc level and higher serum Copper level is responsible is more prone to low birth weight infants.