Plasma zinc level and intrauterine growth retardation: a study in pregnant women in Ramathibodi Hospital.

The study was designed to establish the relationship between plasma zinc level and intrauterine growth retardation in 405 normal pregnant women with an age range from 20 to 35 years, who attended and delivered at Ramathibodi Hospital The data were gathered from October 1994 to April 1995. The zinc levels were obtained from blood plasma collection and the assessment of fetal status was made after birth. Using criteria of babies with a birthweight of less than the 10th centile at delivery. Plasma zinc level in mother was collected during antenatal care and labour. Plasma zinc level was determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. The plasma zinc levels in mothers during antenatal care, labour and infant birthweight were 66.73 micrograms/dl, 69.91 micrograms/dl and 3152.25 g respectively. Maternal plasma zinc levels during antenatal care, labour and infant birthweight in the intrauterine growth retardation infant group were significantly lower than that in normal growth infants (P < 0.05). In conclusion, our study shows that measurement of maternal plasma zinc concentration in the third trimester would highly suggest mothers at risk of delivering intrauterine growth retardation babies. Mothers selected in this way might benefit from dietary advice and zinc supplementation during the remaining pregnancy.