Maternal and Newborn Blood Aluminum Levels and Neurodevelopment of Infants: Is there a Need for Concern?

Aluminum is a neurotoxic element that enters the human body due to its widespread usage in daily life. It has the potential to affect the neurological development of the fetus and infant adversely. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between maternal and umbilical cord serum aluminum level and infant neurodevelopment. Over a period of March 2018 to September 2019, we conducted a prospective cohort study; 173 Mother-new-born pairs were enrolled. Aluminum levels were measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). The correlation with Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) -3rd edition score and maternal and cord serum aluminum were assessed via linear regression model. The mean concentration of maternal and cord serum aluminum was 2.58 ± 1.14 µg/dL and 1.44 ± 0.62 µg/dL, respectively. There was a significant correlation in aluminum level between maternal and umbilical cord serum (Pearson's r = 0.591, p < 0.000). There is no significant correlation between maternal and serum aluminum level, and BSID-3^rd edition (cognitive, motor, language, and social-emotion) score at the average age of 6.5 months. In conclusion, maternal and cord serum aluminum levels were significantly correlated but did not correlate with infant neurodevelopment. Thus, low serum aluminum concentration and their association with child neurodevelopment deserve further investigation longitudinally in a large cohort.

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Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12291-021-01002-y.