Progesterone, selected heavy metals and micronutrients in pregnant Nigerian women with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortion

Abstract

Background: Environmental and endocrine factors have been implicated in the aetiology of recurrent abortion, with poorly understood roles. Luteal phase insufficiency marked with insufficient progesterone secretion has been reported. Objective: To define the involvement of progesterone, trace metals, and Vitamin E in pregnant women with history of recurrent spontaneous abortion. Methods: Convenience sampling method was used to recruit 69 pregnant women aged 21-41 years with gestational age of 0-20 weeks in this case-control study. Thirty five (cases) and thirty four (controls) had previous and no history of recurrent spontaneous abortion respectively. Demographic characteristics and 10mls of blood samples were obtained from each subject. Serum obtained was used for the determination of progesterone, zinc, copper, selenium, iron, magnesium, manganese, chromium, lead, cadmium, and serum vitamin E by standard methods. Results: Results showed statistically significant decreases (p<0.05) in the serum zinc, copper, and vitamin E and a significant elevation (p<0.05) in the serum selenium, lead, and cadmium in cases compared with controls. Insignificant decrease (p=0.07) was observed in the serum progesterone when cases were compared with controls. Conclusion: Results suggest that elevated serum heavy metals (cadmium and lead) and reduction of essential micronutrients (zinc, copper and vitamin E) may contribute to recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Evidence of maternal copper and cadmium transfer in two live-bearing fish species

“…In this group, the presence of essential-metal transporters in the placenta suggests metal exchange between the mother and the developing embryo (Nevitt et al 2012). Non-essential metal transfer has been also observed in mammals (Ronald et al 1984;Ajayi et al 2012; Thompson and Bannigan 2008), where these metals tend to compete with essential metals for transport across placental barriers (Baranowska 1995;Nishijo et al 2002;Nishimura et al 2013). It has been shown that both the transfer of non-essential metals and the transfer of high levels of essential metals can result in disruptions in metabolic processes, membrane damage, teratogenesis, pulmonary defects, carcinogenesis, and reduced survival in offspring of these mammals (Harris and Gitlin 1996;Uauy et al 1998;Wolfe et al 1998).…”

Free-ranging domestic cats are characterized by increased metal content in reproductive tissues

“…Some, however, reveal certain toxicities, disrupt various processes and metabolic pathways (e.g., Al, Cd, Hg and Pb), and have been associated with increased risk of infertility pregnancy loss and malignancy of reproductive tissues [1,2]. Terrestrial mammals such as cats are exposed to metals or acquire them predominantly through food and water consumption and in some cases, through inhalation of polluted air [3][4][5][6].…”

Select toxic metals status of pregnant women with history of pregnancy complications in Benin City, South-South Nigeria

“…Studies in animals revealed that the increased uptake of lead, cadmium and other toxic metals interfered with the normal pregnancy course and result in abortion among other physiological dysfunctions (Ajayi et al 2012). In addition, the special route of exposure that is endogenous calls for a great concern as many metals can mobilize from accumulated organs such as bones to the blood stream during pregnancy after period of exposures (Semczuk et al 2001).…”