A study of the effect of oral zinc supplementation during pregnancy on pregnancy outcome

Abstract

Women in different trimesters of pregnancy (Group B; n = 106) were administered 200 mg zinc sulphate (elemental Zn 45 mg) orally/day from the day of reporting till delivery. Untreated group of 62 served as control. Levels of zinc in maternal serum, umbilical cord blood serum, and urine were estimated. Pregnancy outcome was assessed in terms of incidence of prematurity, IUGR, birth weight; apgar score and gestational age. Serum zinc levels in Gp. A declined significantly from 113.00 +/- 2.80 ug/dl in I trimester to 83.78 +/- 2.20 ug/dl in III (P < 0.001). Following zinc supplementation (Gp. B) serum zinc levels increased significantly from 109.70 + 3.23 micrograms/dl to 205.40 +/- 4.47 micrograms/dl (P < 0.001). Urinary excretion of zinc in Gp. A declined significantly with increase in the period of gestation. However in Gp. B, elimination of Zn increased significantly in proportion with the serum levels (P < 0.001) cord blood serum zinc level was normal irrespective of maternal serum Zn levels. Following oral Zn supplementation, levels increased significantly from below 127.0 micrograms/dl to above 158.0 micrograms/dl in Gp. B (P < 0.001). Maternal serum and cord blood serum zinc ratios were fairly constant in Gp. A as well as in Gp. B. Birth weight of babies born with Zn supplementation was significantly higher than control and was related to duration of oral zinc supplementation (P < 0.001). Gestational age of babies in Gp. B was significantly higher than respective controls when Zn supplementation was given for more than 3 months (P < 0.01), and was related to duration of zinc therapy (P < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)