Concentrations of Serum Zinc, Hemoglobin and Ferritin among Pregnant Women and their Effects on Birth Outcomes in Kashan, Iran

Abstract

Objectives: Zinc and Iron are essential micronutrients in fetus growth and development. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of maternal serum Zinc, Hemoglobin and Ferritin levels with their newborns weight, height and head circumference.

Methods: This cross sectional-analytical study carried out among pregnant women referred to Naghavi Polyclinic, Kashan, Iran from November 2009 to October 2010. One hundred and twenty-nine pregnant women in the third trimester were selected and anthropometric factors of their newborns (weight, height and head circumference) and their relation to serum Zn, Hemoglobin and Ferritin concentrations were assessed.

Results: Serum Hemoglobin deficiency (<11g/dl), serum Ferritin deficiency (<12 µg/L) and serum Zn deficiency (<66 µg/dl) were present in 11 (8.5%), 9 (7%) and 9 (7%) women, respectively. The proportion of newborns with birth weight of 2500-2999 g was greater among mothers with lower Hemoglobin (<11 g/dl) compared to mothers with normal Hemoglobin (≥11 g/dl; p=0.04). Multiple regression analysis showed that among biochemical characteristics of pregnant women, serum Hemoglobin levels were positively correlated with low birth weight (β=0.26; p=0.04). But serum Zn and Ferritin levels were not significantly associated with weight, height and head circumference.

Conclusion: Low maternal serum hemoglobin levels are associated with low birth weight and does not have any association with birth height or head circumference; but there was no significant association between maternal serum zinc and Ferritin levels with weight, height and head circumference.

Keywords: Birth head circumference; Birth height; Birth weight; Hemoglobin; Zinc.