Disturbed zinc metabolism and reduced birthweight related to raised maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein in normal human pregnancies.

The hypothesis was examined that altered maternal zinc metabolism is involved in the low birthweight associated with raised maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP). Mothers with clinically normal pregnancy and normally formed infant but with raised MSAFP (> 90th percentile) had lower than normal plasma zinc concentration, raised leucocyte zinc and disturbed zinc-albumin relationship. They delivered offspring with lower birthweights than did women with normal MSAFP concentration, due both to shorter pregnancy and slower intrauterine growth. These results and others identify a subgroup of mothers associated with low infant birthweight, those with raised MSAFP, who have altered zinc distribution.