Skip to main content
Log in

Blood Copper, Zinc, Calcium, and Magnesium Levels During Different Duration of Pregnancy in Chinese

  • Published:
Biological Trace Element Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Concentrations of various trace elements are altered during pregnancy with changes in the mother’s physiology and the requirements of growing fetus. The aim of the present longitudinal study was to learn the changes of trace element copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) of normal pregnant woman during different durations of pregnancy and establish the reference values of changes of statistical significance. Blood samples were obtained from 128 normal pregnant women during early (10–14th week), mid (20–24th week), and late (30–34th week) pregnancy and 6–12th week postpartum and 120 healthy unpregnant healthy women. The full blood concentrations of chosen elements were measured by means of an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Changes on levels of Cu, Ca, and Mg during all the three durations of pregnancy and Zn during mid and late pregnancy and postpartum were of statistical significance and new reference values of them were set in the present study. These new reference values will be helpful in assessing the health status of pregnant women with a socioeconomic and racial background similar to those of our study participants and give treatments to them promptly.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. King JC (2000) Physiology of pregnancy and nutrient metabolism. Am J Clin Nutr 71:1218–1225

    Google Scholar 

  2. Black RE (2001) Micronutrients in pregnancy. Br J Nutr 85(l2):S193–S197

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Prentice A (2000) Calcium in pregnancy and lactation. Annu Rev Nutr 20:249–272

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. George SS, Swaminathan S, Seshadri L et al (1996) Zinc levels in pregnancy. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 55(2):175–176

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Al Saleh E, Nandakumaran M, Al Harmi J et al (2006) Maternal–fetal status of copper, iron, molybdenum, selenium, and zinc in obese pregnant women in late gestation. Biol Trace Elem Res 113(2):113–123

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Izquierdo Alvarez S, Castanon SG, Ruata ML et al (2007) Updating of normal levels of copper, zinc and selenium in serum of pregnant women. J Trace Elem Med Biol 21(1):49–52

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Huang HM, Leung PL, Sun DZ et al (1999) Hair and serum calcium, iron, copper, and zinc levels during normal pregnancy at three trimesters. Biol Trace Elem Res 69(2):111–120

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Ilhan N, Ilhan N, Simsek M (2002) The changes of trace elements, malondialdehyde levels and superoxide dismutase activities in pregnancy with or without preeclampsia. Clinical Biochemistry 35:393–397

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Keen C, Uriu-Hare J, Hawk S et al (1998) Effect of copper deficiency on prenatal development and pregnancy outcome. Am J Clin Nutr 67:1003S–1011S

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. O'Brien KO, Zavaleta N, Caulfield LE et al (2000) Prenatal iron supplements impair zinc absorption in pregnant Peruvian women. J Nutr 130:2251–2255

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. King JC (2000) Determinants of maternal zinc status during pregnancy. Am J Clin Nutr 71:1334S–1343S

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Tamura T, Goldenberg RL, Johnston KE et al (2000) Maternal plasma zinc concentrations and pregnancy outcome. Am J Clin Nutr 71:109–113

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Tuttle S (1983) Trace element requirements during pregnancy. In: Campbell DM, Gillmer MDG (eds) Nutrition in pregnancy. Royal College of Gynaecologists, London, pp 47–54

    Google Scholar 

  14. Sheldon WL, Aspillaga MO, Smith PA et al (1985) The effect of oral iron supplementation on zinc and magnesium levels during pregnancy. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 92:892–898

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Baig S, Hasnain NU, Uddin Q et al (2003) Studies on Zn, Cu, Mg, Ca and phosphorus in maternal and cord blood. JPMA 53:417

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. de Jong N (2002) Zinc and iron status during pregnancy of Filipino women. Asia Pacific J Clin Nutr 11(3):186–193

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Hambidge KM, Abebe Y, Gibson RS (2006) Zinc absorption during late pregnancy in rural southern Ethiopia. Am J Clin Nutr 84(5):1102–1106

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. More C, Bhattoa HP, Bettembuk P et al (2003) The effects of pregnancy and lactation on hormonal status and biochemical markers of bone turnover. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 106:209–213

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Zeni SN, Ortela Soler CR, Lazzari A et al (2003) Interrelationship between bone turnover markers and dietary calcium intake in pregnant women: a longitudinal study. Bone 33:606–613

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Mayne P (1996) Calcium, phosphate and magnesium metabolism. In: Clinical chemistry in diagnosis and treatment ELSB, 6th edn. Bath, UK, pp 179–188, 144

  21. Pitkin RM, Gebhardt MP (1977) Serum calcium concentrations in human pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 127:775–778

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Rasmussen N, Frolich A, Hornnes PJ et al (1990) Serum ionized calcium and intact parathyroid hormone levels during pregnancy and postpartum. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 97:857–859

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Dahlman T, Sjoberg HE, Bucht E (1994) Calcium homeostasis in normal pregnancy and puerperium. A longitudinal study. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 73:393–398

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Kovacs CS, Kronenberg HM (1997) Maternal–fetal calcium and bone metabolism during pregnancy, puerperium, and lactation. Endocr Rev 18:832–872

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Mohapatra P, Mohapatra SC, Aggrawal DK et al (1990) Nutritional status of antenatal women in rural areas of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Man India 70(1):85–91

    Google Scholar 

  26. Kent GN, Price RI, Gutteridge DH et al (1991) The efficiency of intestinal calcium absorption is increased in late pregnancy but not in established lactation. Calcif Tissue Int 48:293–295

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Standley CA, Whitty JE, Mason BA et al (1997) Serum ionized magnesium levels in normal and preeclamptic gestation. Obstet Gynecol 89:24–27

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Williams KP, Galerneau F (2002) The role of serum uric acid as a prognostic indicator of the severity of maternal and fetal complications in hypertensive pregnancies. J Obstet Gynaecol Can 24:628–632

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Dale F, Sinpson G (1992) Serum magnesium levels of women taking an oral or long term injectable progestational contraceptive. Obstet Gynecol 39:115–119

    Google Scholar 

  30. Lonnerdal B (1996) Iron–zinc–copper interactions. In: Micronutrient interactions: impact on child health and nutrition. ILSI, Washington, DC, pp 3–10

  31. Milne DB, Canfield WK, Mahalko JR et al (1984) Effect of oral folic acid supplements on zinc, copper, and iron absorption and excretion. Am J Clin Nutr 39:535–539

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Hallberg L (1998) Does calcium interfere with iron absorption? Am J Clin Nutr 68:3–4 editorial

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Institute of Medicine (1999) Dietary reference intakes. Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin D, and fluoride. National Academy, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  34. Diggle P, Heagerty P, Liang KY, Zeger SL (2002) Analysis of longitudinal data. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 1–21

    Google Scholar 

  35. Pahwa P, Blair T (2002) Statistical model for the analysis of longitudinal data. Available at: http://www.cacr.ca/news/2002/0204pahwa.htm. Accessed December 2007

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yongmei Jiang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Liu, J., Yang, H., Shi, H. et al. Blood Copper, Zinc, Calcium, and Magnesium Levels During Different Duration of Pregnancy in Chinese. Biol Trace Elem Res 135, 31–37 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-009-8482-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-009-8482-y

Keywords

Navigation