Background and aim: Zinc and copper are essential trace elements for cell growth and proliferation. Their deficiency may contribute to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). We aimed to determine the zinc and copper status of maternal serum and placenta samples of pregnant women with fetal IUGR and age-matched pregnant women without IUGR.
Method: Serum and placenta samples obtained from 37 IUGR and 21 healthy pregnant women were analyzed at delivery.
Results: Placenta zinc concentrations and placenta zinc/copper ratio were significantly lower in the IUGR group compared to controls (p < 0.05). Placenta zinc concentrations correlated with birth weight (p: 0.01, r: 0.31). Maternal levels of zinc and copper were similar between pregnant women with IUGR and controls.
Conclusions: Lower placental zinc and zinc/copper ratio levels in pregnancies with IUGR may indicate that placenta zinc and placental zinc/copper status might be involved in IUGR.
Keywords: Intrauterine growth restriction; copper; placenta; zinc.