Conclusion
Our study shows a link between malformation and zinc deficiency in mother, or copper deficiency in newborn, but this is not a direct relationship to levels under a certain limit. We know that the level of copper or zinc in serum is not a good index of trace element deficiencies, and is disturbed by hormonal changes. Zinc deficiencies may thus be transitory and the first months of pregnancy are most dangerous. Unfortunately in our study we would not have detected such a deficiency at the beginning of pregnancy.
Article PDF
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bergman, K. E., Makosch, G. and Tews, K. H. Abnormalities of hair zinc concentration in mothers of newborn infants with spina bifida.Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 33 (1980) 2145–2150
Cavdar, A. O., Arcasoy, A., Bayan, T. and Himmetoglu, O. Zinc deficiency and anencephaly in Turkey.Teratology 22 (1980) 141
Hambridge, K. M., Neldner, K. M. and Walravens, P. A. Zinc, acrodermatitis enteropathica and congenital malformations.Lancet 1 (1975) 577
Hurley, L. S. Perinatal effects of trace elements deficiencies. In Prasad, A. S. and Oberleas, D. (eds)Trace Elements in Human Health and Disease, Vol. 2. Academic Press, New York, 1976, pp. 301–314
Hurley, L. S. Teratogenic aspects of manganese, zinc and copper nutrition.Physiol. Rev. 61 (1981) 249–295
Hurley, L. S. Trace elements in mammalian development.Johns Hopkins Med. J. 148 (1981) 110
Jameson, S. Effects of zinc deficiency in human reproduction.Linkoping Univ. Med. Diss., Sweden 37 (1976) 4–89
Sever, L. E. and Emmanuel, I. Is there a connection between maternal zinc deficiency and congenital malformations of the central nervous system in man?Teratology 7 (1973) 117–118
Shaw, J. C. L. Trace elements in the fetus and young infant. II: Copper, manganese, selenium, and chromium.Am. J. Dis. Child. 134 (1980) 74–81
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Favier, A., Ruffieux, D., Decoux, G. et al. Results of a study to detect the effects on neonates of copper and zinc deficiency during pregnancy. J Inherit Metab Dis 6 (Suppl 2), 93–94 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01810343
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01810343