Metal content of the liver in sudden infant death syndrome.

The metals zinc, iron, copper, manganese, calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium were analysed in the livers of 67 Australian infants who had died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and 29 infants who had died from other causes (non-SIDS). The results were evaluated in relation to medical data and fatty acid composition of the livers. In infants less than 6 months old the liver potassium levels were significantly lower in SIDS than in non-SIDS infants. No other significant differences in metals between the SIDS and non-SIDS livers were found. Zinc, iron and copper levels in infant liver fell with age during the first year.