Impact of the mother's zinc deficiency on the woman's and newborn's health status

The results of studying the prevalence of zinc deficiency in pregnant women and children at birth are presented. About 77% of the mothers and, in average, every third-fifth child depending on gestational age at birth have decreased serum zinc concentration (below 13 mu mol/L). Malnutrition regarding macro- and micronutrients increases the risk of zinc deficiency in examined women (AP = 28%; RR = 1.4; CI = 0.9-3.5). Zinc deficiency increases the risk of pregnancy complications, exacerbations of chronic diseases with gestation as background, labor activities disorders, with hypogalactia and decreasing zinc concentration in the breast milk as concomitant conditions. A relationship between the mothers' serum zinc concentration and trace element concentration in umbilical blood, body height and body mass, adaptive possibilities and child morbidity at birth has been established. Children in their first year of life with a zinc concentration in umbilical blood below 13 mu mol/L are characterized by reduced rate of linear growth, delay of psycho-motor development and increased morbidity. (c) 2005 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.