Vitamin and mineral intake during pregnancy is crucial to pregnancy and fetal health. Researchers from JSS University in India recently published a study revealing micronutrient levels in the third trimester of pregnancy on pregnancy outcome. The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Diagnostic Research.

Researchers recruited 50 pregnant women for the study. All women were between 20 and 30 years of age and had undergone prenatal care for the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. Hemoglobin, zinc, serum ferritin and copper levels were measured using venous blood samples.

Serum ferritin levels remained consistent, but zinc and copper levels differed. Zinc levels decreased as the number of children born to the participant increased. Copper levels decreased as BMI increased. Researchers also noted increased hemoglobin caused an increase in serum ferritin and zinc.

Conclusion: Micronutrient profiles vary among pregnant women and may be associated with increased parity and BMI. Increasing iron levels positively affects zinc and iron levels.

Source: Paul S, Prashant A, T R C, Suma MN, Vishwanath P, R N D. The Micronutrient Levels in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy and Assessment of the Neonatal Outcome: A Pilot Study. J Clin Diagn Res. 2013 Aug;7(8):1572-1575. Epub 2013 Aug 1.