Plasma Zinc Levels of Pregnant Women Visiting Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The plasma zinc levels were evaluated in pregnant women at different trimesters visiting Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria. Sixty pregnant women were evaluated and out of these, 15 each were in their first, second and their trimesters respectively, while another 15 non pregnant women served as controls. The ages of the subjects were between 19 and 35 years. Their plasma samples were analyzed using the Walsh method with alpha 4-type model of atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results of the analyses were 17.113±1.600, 11.750±3.289, 9.246±4.739 and 17.350±0.504 μmol/L for the 1^st trimester, 2^nd trimester, 3^rd trimester and control subjects respectively. There were significant statistical differences (p< 0.05) between the values obtained from the pregnant women the values from the control subjects. There is the need for zinc supplementation during pregnancy in the study area, especially during the second and third trimesters.

Keywords:Zinc, plasma, pregnant women, hospital, Nigeria

International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 5(3): 281-283, 2009