Serum Zinc, Copper, Selenium, Calcium, and Magnesium Levels in Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Pregnant women in developing countries are vulnerable to multiple micronutrient deficiencies. Studies assessing serum levels of the micronutrients and magnitude of their deficiencies are very scarce in African subjects. This study was aimed at determining serum levels of micronutrients in 375 pregnant (42 HIV seropositive) and 76 non-pregnant women (20 HIV seropositive) who visited the University of Gondar Hospital, Gondar, Ethiopia. Serum concentrations of zinc,\ copper, selenium, calcium, and magnesium were determined using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Irrespective of HIV serostatus, pregnant women had significantly higher serum concentrations of copper and copper/zinc ratio and significantly lower magnesium compared to those in non-pregnant women (P < 0.05). Except for selenium, which was significantly lower in HIV-seropositive pregnant women (P < 0.05), the mean serum concentrations of zinc, copper, calcium, and magnesium were not significantly different between pregnant women by HIV serostatus. The prevalence of deficiency in zinc, magnesium, selenium, and calcium in the pregnant women, irrespective of their HIV serostatus, was 66.7%, 25.6%, 21.9%, and 9.3%, respectively. The magnitude of deficiency in zinc, magnesium, and selenium was significantly higher in HIV seropositive pregnant women (76.2%, 52.4%, and 45.2%) than that in HIV-seronegative pregnant women (65.5%, 22.2%, and 18.9%) and in HIV-seronegative non-pregnant women (42.9%, 8.1%, and 30.4%; P < 0.05). Deficiency in one, two, three, or four mineral elements was observed in 44.8%, 14.4%, 9.9%, and 5.1% of the pregnant women, respectively. Only 25.9% of the pregnant women and 44.7% of the non-pregnant women were not deficient in any of the micronutrients. The high prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies in pregnant and non-pregnant women in Gondar, Ethiopia warrants the need for strategies on prevention and control of the deficiencies.

Serum Level of Some Minerals during Three Trimesters of Pregnancy in Iranian Women and Their Newborns: A Longitudinal Study

“…Copper deficiency affects many cuproenzymes, leading to defects in ATP production; lipid peroxidation; hormone activation; angiogenesis; and abnormalities of vasculature, skeleton, and lung [22]. Similar mean serum levels of copper were shown in other studies carried out in Ethiopia [23] and in China [9]. Our results show that copper levels rise significantly with increasing gestational periods.…”

Zinc-enriched fertilisers as a potential public health intervention in Africa

“…Zinc intakes and status can also be measured directly through analysis of dietary composites or concentration of Zn in blood plasma or serum samples. Through such methods, high prevalence of Zn deficiency have been reported previously in sub-populations in Burkina Faso (e.g., Müller et al 2003), Ethiopia (e.g., Abebe et al 2007;Kassu et al 2008;Stoecker et al 2009), Kenya (e.g., Siekmann et al 2003), Malawi (e.g., Siyame et al 2013), Nigeria (e.g., Gegios et al 2010, Tanzania (e.g., Veenemans et al 2011) and Zambia (e.g., Duggan et al 2005). New baseline Zn deficiency estimates correlated well with the IHME estimates of DALYs lost due to Zn deficiency (Spearman's Rank, r = 0.588, p =0.018, d.f.=9).…”

Prevalence of zinc deficiency and its association with dietary, serum albumin and intestinal parasitic infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care at the University of Gondar Hospital, Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia

“…Sample size for estimating the prevalence of ZD was computed using single population proportion sample size calculation formula with the inputs of 95 % confidence level, 5 % of margin of error, non-response rate of 10 % and expected prevalence of ZD of 66.7 % [13]. Accordingly, sample size of 377 was computed.…”

“…In Ethiopia, few studies determined the prevalence of ZD in pregnant women and came up with figures ranging from 53 to 76 % [12][13][14][15]. All the studies consistently witnessed the public health significance of ZD in the country.…”