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Distribution of Calcium, Iron, Copper, and Zinc in Two Portions of Placenta of Teenager and Adult Women

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Abstract

The placenta is fundamental for fetal development. The aim of this study was to determine Ca, Fe, Cu, and Zn content in the fetal and maternal portions of the placentas of teenage and adult women. Measurement of the minerals was conducted using Synchrotron radiation total reflection X-ray fluorescence. Forty samples from the fetal portion of teenagers and adults and 40 samples from the maternal portion of teenagers and adults were analyzed. There were significant differences in the Ca and Cu concentrations of the placenta’s maternal portion when compared to the fetal portion, for both teenagers and adults. There were differences in Fe and Zn concentrations only when comparing the maternal portion of placenta with the fetal portion of the adults. These results suggest important differences in mineral content based on the placental portion. No significant difference was observed between the minerals studied of the maternal portion of teenagers and adults; however, in the fetal portion, mineral concentrations were greater in adults than in teenagers. Therefore, the mineral concentration of the fetal portion of the placenta is influenced by the mother’s age. If there is mineral’s competition between the mother and fetus during pregnancy in adolescence due to the importance of these minerals in growth and development, then the mechanism and reason for it should be elucidated in future research. In addition, we believe that further research should be carried out on transporters of these minerals in the same portions of the placentas analyzed by our group, in teenagers and adults.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Biochemical Nutrition, Josué de Castro Institute of Nutrition, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Milena Lima de Moraes, Raquel Espírito Santo, Flávia da Silva Santos, Lívia Belcastro de Almeida, Fátima Lucia de Carvalho Sardinha & Maria das Graças Tavares do Carmo

  2. College of Nutrition, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil

    Milena Lima de Moraes

  3. Laboratory of Nuclear Instrumentation, Technology Center, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Renata de Faria Barbosa & Edgar Francisco Oliveira de Jesus

  4. Coordenação de Nutrição, Universidade Estadual do Ceará, Avenida Paranjana, 1700, Campus do Itaperi, Fortaleza, CE, 60740-400, Brazil

    Milena Lima de Moraes

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  1. Milena Lima de Moraes
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  2. Renata de Faria Barbosa
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  3. Raquel Espírito Santo
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  4. Flávia da Silva Santos
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  5. Lívia Belcastro de Almeida
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  6. Edgar Francisco Oliveira de Jesus
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  7. Fátima Lucia de Carvalho Sardinha
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  8. Maria das Graças Tavares do Carmo
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Correspondence to Milena Lima de Moraes.

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de Moraes, M.L., de Faria Barbosa, R., Santo, R.E. et al. Distribution of Calcium, Iron, Copper, and Zinc in Two Portions of Placenta of Teenager and Adult Women. Biol Trace Elem Res 143, 1271–1281 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-011-8963-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-011-8963-7

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