Plasma zinc levels in Ecuadorian mothers of infants with nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate: A case series

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have reported an association between maternal zinc deficiency and increased risk of nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) in offspring. A high prevalence of zinc deficiency and a high prevalence of NSCL/P have been reported in Ecuador. We postulated that mothers of infants with NSCL/P may have lower serum zinc levels than women from the general population.

Zinc Adequacy Is Essential for the Maintenance of Optimal Oral Health

“…Copper injection and low zinc diet during pregnancy were also linked to orofacial clefts [48][49][50]. The case-series results published in 2018 supported previous results, that low plasma zinc levels of healthy mothers were associated with nonsyndromic cleft lip/palate among their babies [51]. More recently, a case-control study confirmed that exposure to a high level of zinc during pregnancy was associated with reduced risk of cleft lip and/or palate [52].…”

Zinc Deficiency among Lactating Mothers from a Peri-Urban Community of the Ecuadorian Andean Region: An Initial Approach to the Need of Zinc Supplementation

“…It is important to mention that in a previous report following the same methodology, we evaluated PZn levels in a cohort of 35 women who had a child between 1 and 12-months-old with an oral malformation, reporting a prevalence of ZD of 31.4; these results were probably due to the use of formula to feed the children because the oral malformation causes breastfeeding difficulties [ 20 ]. Lactation is a risk factor for zinc deficiency and the recommended dietary allowance is higher among pregnant and lactating women than in non-pregnant non-lactating women [ 6 ].…”

“…Additionally, we excluded pregnant women, non-fasting women, women with any disability that interferes with sample collection, and women who consumed alcohol or performed extreme exercise the night before sampling, factors that were contemplated by ENSANUT-ECU. We followed these guidelines following the methodology of a previous report of our research group [ 20 ].…”

“…Zinc quantification of all the samples was performed at the same time in dust-free fume hoods with minimal contact with air. We followed the same criteria that in our previous report [ 20 ].…”

“…On the other hand, a study conducted previously by our research group, found a prevalence of ZD of 31.4% (95% CI: 17.1–48.6) in a small cohort of mothers of children with non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate. It is important to clarify that these women did not exclusively breastfed their babies due to the oral malformation [ 20 ].…”