SERUM COPPER CONCENTRATION IN NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS PREGNANCIES IN GORGAN-NORTHERN IRAN: A CASE CONTROL STUDY

Objectives: To determine an association between copper deficiency and neural tube defects in Northern Iran, which is reported to have a high prevalence of neural tube defects. Methodology: This hospital based case control study was conducted on 13 mothers with newborns having neural tube defects and 35 healthy controls mothers in Northern Iran during 2005-2006. Serum copper was measured by spectrophotometery. Results: Serum copper level in mothers with NTD affected newborns and mothers with normal newborns was 15.9±6.1 micromol/litter and 15.2±6.2 micromol/litter, respectively. Overall 15.4% of mothers in case group and 25.7 % of mothers in control group had copper deficiency. Logistic regression analysis showed no association between the presence of NTD and copper deficiency (OR =0.5, 95% Cl: 0.05-3.2). Conclusion: This study showed that there is no association between the presence of neural tube defects (NTD) and copper deficiency.