SERUM LEVELS OF CALCIUM, COPPER, MAGNESIUM AND ZINC IN NIGERIAN PREGNANT WOMEN AND CORRELATION WITH GESTATIONAL PERIODS

Background/Objective: Pregnant women in developing countries have been reported to consume diets with low density of minerals and essential trace elements. There is need to boost maternal awareness of dangers associated with deficiency of essential trace elements during pregnancy. This study evaluates the levels of calcium, copper, magnesium and zinc in pregnant women and also seeks to know which of the trimester of pregnancy that the concentrations are lowest and to correlate these levels with parity and socio-economic status of the pregnant women.

Materials and Methods: The measured parameters were assayed in serum by colorimetric methods using commercially available reagent kits.

Results: Statistically significant increase (p<0.001) level was observed for serum copper and statistically significant decreases (p<0.001) were observed for serum magnesium, zinc and calcium in pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women. The mean levels of copper did not change between the first and second trimester but increased in the 3rd trimester while magnesium, calcium and zinc levels decreased with increasing age of gestation. Serum copper correlated positively (r=0.508,p<0.001) with trimester while calcium, magnesium and zinc correlated negatively (r=-0.212, p=0.034; r=-0.247, p=0.013: r=-0.672, p<0.001). No significant correlation was observed between the measured variables and parity and socioeconomic except copper which correlated (r=-0.224; p<0.025) with socioeconomic status.

Conclusion: We observed increased copper concentration, hypomagnesemia, hypocalcaemia and decreased zinc levels in this study. Serum copper significantly correlated with socioeconomic status. The other parameters did not correlate with parity and socio-economic status of pregnant women. Pregnant women should be aware of the importance of adequate dietary intake to avoid the complications associated with deficiency of these nutrients.