Association of fetal growth with elevated maternal plasma zinc concentration in human pregnancy.

This report consists of two separate studies. Study I was a prospective one in which 23 pregnant women ultrasonically diagnosed as having small fetuses were compared with 22 women with large fetuses. Maternal plasma zinc concentrations pre- and post-35 weeks gestation were significantly higher in mothers of small than in mothers of large infants. Twelve women with normal pregnancies participated in study II. Biochemical data obtained in maternal plasma during the third trimester of pregnancy, including total, albumin-bound and alpha 2-macroglobulin-bound plasma zinc concentrations and plasma copper concentration were compared with infant anthropometric data at birth. The results indicated significant negative correlations between maternal plasma zinc and albumin-bound zinc concentrations and plasma copper concentration in the third trimester of pregnancy and mid-arm circumference and ponderal index. The results of these studies, in the light of other data reported for primates and humans, suggest the need for a more extensive investigation of the relationship between maternal circulating zinc and copper concentrations and fetal growth.