The effects of zinc supplementation on levels of various blood constituents and the outcome of pregnancy in 213 Hispanic women attending a prenatal clinic in Los Angeles was assessed in this double-blind study. The women were randomized into either a control (C) or a zinc-supplemented (Z) group and received similar vitamin and mineral supplements except that 20 mg zinc was added to the Z group's capsules. At the final interview, women (C + Z) with low serum Zn levels (less than or equal to 53 micrograms/dl) had higher (p less than 0.01) mean ribonuclease activity and lower (p less than 0.01) mean delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity than women with acceptable serum zinc levels. The incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension was higher (p less than 0.003) in the C than in the Z group, but pregnancy-induced hypertension was not associated with low serum zinc levels at either the initial or final interview. The expected increase in serum copper levels was greater (less than 0.001) in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension (C + Z) than in normotensives. Except for pregnancy-induced hypertension, there was a higher incidence of abnormal outcomes of pregnancy in the noncompliers than in the compliers (C + Z).

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the influence of maternal and neonatal factors on the recurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). A study was conducted on 164 predominantly Hispanic patients whose index pregnancy was complicated by GDM and whose subsequent consecutive pregnancy was managed at our institution between January 1988 and December 1992. The diagnosis of GDM was based on the criteria recommended by the National Diabetes Data Group using a 100-g oral glucose tolerance test. One-hundred and eleven (68%) of the 164 women had recurrence of GDM. Fifty-three (32%) did not demonstrate recurrence in their subsequent pregnancy. Patients with recurrence had GDM diagnosed earlier (30.3 vs 32.5 weeks, p = 0.03), frequently required insulin (25 vs. 8%, p <0.05) and had more hospital admissions (32 vs. 10% p <0.05) in their index pregnancy compared to women who did not have recurrence of GDM. Women who had recurrence had elevated mean third-trimester plasma glucose values: fasting 87.6 vs. 83 mg/dL, (p = 0.009) and 2-hr postprandial 109.7 vs. 102.2 mg/dL, (p = 0.008). Neonates of patients with recurrence were heavier (3656 vs. 3373 g, p = 0.004) and had an increased incidence of macrosomia (26 vs. 10%, p <0.05). No significant differences were observed in maternal age, prepregnancy body mass index, HbgA1C values, second-trimester blood glucose levels, method of delivery, incidence of shoulder dystocia and Apgar scores between the two groups of women. Hispanic patients with history of GDM have significant risk of recurrence in their subsequent pregnancy. The risk for recurrence in women is increased if GDM is diagnosed earlier, they require insulin, have elevated third-trimester plasma glucose level, and deliver macrosomic infants in their index pregnancy. It appears that obesity does not increase the risk of recurrence of gestational diabetes in Hispanics.

Fetal and maternal plasma concentrations of androstenedione, testosterone, and estradiol were measured in chronically catheterized pregnant sheep during late gestation, spontaneous term delivery, and premature delivery induced by the infusion of low doses of synthetic ACTH-(1-24) (ACTH) to the fetus at 120-130 days gestation. RIAs employing two different antisera directed at different sites of each molecule were used in combination with Celite column chromatography to ensure the specificity of the hormone measurements. Fetal plasma concentrations of all three hormones were greater than the respective maternal concentration at all periods investigated, except immediately before ACTH-induced delivery when fetal testosterone and estradiol concentrations were lower. These observations further support the hypothesis that delivery in the sheep is associated with the induction of placental 17 alpha-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase by the increased conversion of progesterone to estrogens. The higher values of androstenedione than of testosterone also support the view that estrone is produced in larger quantities than estradiol and that estrone and estrone sulfate are good endocrine markers of the progress of the endocrine changes occurring immediately before parturition in the sheep.

No abstract