Maternal serum zinc concentration and neural tube defects in offspring: a meta-analysis

Background: Zinc is a divalent cation first isolated in 1509 and since then its importance has been increasingly recognised in human health and nutrition. Present study has been undertaken to confirm the association between maternal plasma or serum zinc concentration and birth weight.Methods: Present study was cross-sectional study conducted in tertiary care hospital. Newborns with a birth weight of < 2.5kg and their mothers labelled as study group while newborns with a birth weight of > 2.5kg and their mothers were considered as control group. The analysis for the serum concentration of zinc was done using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric method (AAS), this method analytically the most reliable for routine assessment of serum zinc levels. The results deduced from the analysis were accordingly grouped to the study group / control group. We had a sub-group analysis based on the gestational age, as Preterm and Term.Results: Maternal serum levels of zinc 67.04 μg /dl±16.66, in the study group, was less as compared to the maternal serum levels of zinc in the control group with a mean level of 75.39 μg/dl±17.89. The results show a significant association between zinc levels and birth weight. Mean Maternal serum levels of zinc 67.04 μg /dl±16.66, in the study group, was less as compared to the maternal serum levels of zinc in the control group with a mean level of 75.39 μg/dl±17.89. The results show a significant association between zinc levels and birth weight.Conclusions: Present study showed a positive correlation of maternal zinc levels with birth weight and prematurity. Hence, we recommend routine zinc supplementation could be included with other nutritional supplements during pregnancy.

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Comparative study of serum zinc concentrations in benign and malignant prostate disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/srep25778 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Jiang Zhao ◽

Qingjian Wu ◽

Xiaoyan Hu ◽

Xingyou Dong ◽

Liang Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Zinc Concentration ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Serum Zinc ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Prostatic Disease ◽

Serum Zinc Concentration ◽

Prostate Disease ◽

Zinc Concentrations ◽

The Relationship ◽

Normal Controls

Abstract Many studies have investigated the relationship between serum zinc concentration and prostatic disease, but have shown inconsistent results. Hence, we performed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to assess the correlation between serum zinc concentration and prostate disease. Systematic literature searches were conducted with PubMed, EMBASE, Science Direct/Elsevier, MEDLINE, CNKI and the Cochrane Library up to June 2015 for studies that involved the relationship between serum zinc concentration and prostate disease. Fourteen studies were identified from the databases. Our results illustrated that the serum zinc concentrations in prostate cancer patients were significantly lower than those in Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients and normal controls (SMD (95% CI), −0.94 [−1.57, −0.32]; −1.18 [−1.90, −0.45]). However, the serum zinc concentrations in BPH patients were significantly higher than those in normal controls (SMD (95% CI) 1.77 [0.15, 3.39]). The present study showed that different levels of serum zinc concentrations are correlated with different prostatic disease. Serum zinc concentration may be used as a tool for the diagnosis and screening of prostate disease. But, further studies with well-designed larger sample studies are needed in this field to further clarify the correlation between serum zinc concentration and prostate disease.

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