Correlations of Maternal Serum Zinc Levels with Cord Blood Procollagen Type 1-N Terminal Propeptide Levels and Anthropometric Measurements of Newborns

Background: Zinc is an important micronutrient that is required for optimal fetal growth and development. Zinc deficiency during pregnancy may interfere with intrauterine fetal ossification. Fetal ossification can be measured with specific bone growth markers, such as procollagen type 1-N terminal propeptide (P1NP). This study aimed to investigate the mean maternal serum zinc levels and assess the correlations of maternal serum zinc levels with cord blood P1NP levels and anthropometric measurements of newborns. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Universitas Sumatera Utara Hospital and other hospitals in Medan, Indonesia, from April to October 2019. The statistical populations were pregnant mothers and their newborns who met the inclusion criteria. The participants were selected using a consecutive sampling technique. Maternal serum zinc levels and cord blood P1NP levels were measured before delivery; moreover, anthropometric measurements were conducted in this study. Results: A total of 42 subjects were included in this study with a mean maternal serum zinc level of 52.0±9.0 μg/dL. The proportion of pregnant mothers with low serum zinc levels was high (54.8%). According to the results, there was a significant correlation between maternal serum zinc levels and newborn birth weight (r=0.648) and length (r=0.656), as well as head circumference (r=0.578; P=0.001). There was also a significant and positive linear correlation between maternal serum zinc levels and cord blood P1NP levels (r=0.469; P=0.002). Conclusion: The mean maternal serum zinc levels during pregnancy were below normal. There were positive significant correlations between maternal serum zinc levels and cord blood P1NP levels with anthropometric measurements of newborns.