Zinc status in pregnancies associated with neural tube defects in Turkey

The present study was carried out to further assess the maternal zinc status of mothers who previously gave birth to NTD babies. In order to assess the zinc status; 54 women who gave birth to NTD babies were compared to 15 controls. Zinc levels were assessed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer Perkin Elmer Model 2380. Although there was no statistically significant difference between plazma zinc levels; hair zinc levels of the NTD mothers were found to be significantly reduced indicating a chronic zinc deficiency state. Oral zinc tolerance test (OZTT) was performed in NTD mothers and controls. Although there was no marked difference at the AUC(4) values between the two groups, NTD women showed a curve indicating a chronic zinc deficiency state. Six of the NTD mothers had flat zinc absorption curves. Their intestinal biopsies were within normal limits. these women were supplemented with ZnSO4. 7H(2)O, 2mg/kg/day for 6 months. Twelve women who had also normal folate and Vit B-12 but low zinc levels were also supplemented with Zinc sulphate. Total of 16 women including four women with defective OZTT had given birth to 16 normal babies. 12 of the 16 were evaluated by X-ray and five had CSB (41.6 %). Previous data and our findings are evidence for the possible role of zinc at least in some of the mothers with NTD babies.