Loco-regional Study over Relation of Serum Levels of Iron and Zinc in Pregnant Females of Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

Zinc has been established to be essential for humans and acts as an electron acceptor contributing to catalytic activity in many important enzymes. Zinc also plays a very important role in pregnancy. There is very few data in India on serum levels of zinc and its relation with serum iron (Fe) levels in pregnant women. The authors decided to carry out this study in order to provide the baseline data that may have public health implications. This study was conducted in the hill region of Uttarakhand, India, enrolling sixty pregnant women, in the age group of 18–35 years with twenty control cases. Blood hemoglobin with serum iron and zinc levels was estimated. The prevalence of anemia, in the present study (46.62%) is much lower than quoted 65–75% figures. Iron deficiency remains the most common cause of anemia in pregnancy (present study – 89.29%). In the present study, 48.3% of the pregnant women had hypozincemia and prevalence was higher in anemic pregnant women (53.57%). Serum zinc levels are significantly lower in iron deficient anemic pregnancy (IDAP), when compared to non-iron deficient anemic pregnancy (NIDP) and in control cases. The fall in zinc level may be due to physiological response of the maternal blood volume expansion though the role of iron supplementation cannot be ignored as iron and zinc have been shown to competitively inhibit each other’s absorption. Biochemical analysis during pregnancy can help us to diagnose the specific nutrient deficiency and provide ideal therapeutic measures.

Keywords: Zinc, iron, iron deficiency, hypozincemia, maternal health