Biomedical Research

To measure the levels of Zn, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cd, As and other trace elements in bodies of the mother and the fetus and to perform correlation analysis among trace elements. Total of 180 pregnant women hospitalized between October 2008 and Apr 2009 were continuously recruited in this study. Contents of trace element in maternal and umbilical cord blood including Zn, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cd and As etc. were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry system. SPSS12.0 software was applied to establish database and conduct statistical analysis. Median concentrations of Zn, Mn, Cu, Pb, As and Cd in maternal blood were respectively 5747.0 μg/L, 29.145 μg/L, 1410.5 μg/L, 32.105 μg/L, 4.435 μg/L , and 1.155 μg/L, and median concentrations of corresponding element in umbilical cord blood were respectively 1793.0 μg/L, 45.489 μg/L, 464.4 μg/L, 21.625 μg/L, 2.976 μg/L, and 0.142 μg/L. Contents of Zn, Cu, Pb, As and Cd in maternal blood were significantly higher than that in umbilical cord blood (P<0.05). Levels of Mn in umbilical cord blood were significantly higher than that in maternal blood (P<0.05). All 6 trace elements in maternal blood had significant positive correlation to corresponding elements in umbilical cord blood (r: 0.169 ~ 0.378 and all P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that various trace elements in maternal blood were the main determinant of corresponding trace elements in umbilical cord blood. Some trace elements in maternal blood also had certain impact on the levels of other trace elements in umbilical cord blood. This study showed that toxic trace elements Pb, As and Cd existed at higher level in patients from China than developed countries, which is a problem not to be ignored. Trace element levels in neonate were closely related to that in the mother, while levels of trace element in maternal blood had some effects on the levels of other trace element in umbilical cord blood. Therefore, monitoring trace element levels during pregnancy and effective treatment in case of abnormal findings were still important components of eugenics.

Author(s): Yan Qi and Juan Du
Abstract | Full-Text | PDF

Share this