SERUM ZINC CONCENTRATION OF CORD BLOOD IN TERM NEONATES AT OF HUE UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY HOSPITAL

Background: Zinc is one of the important trace elements involved in many biological functions of the body. Newborns are susceptible to zinc deficiency. Zinc deficiency in the mother during pregnancy can affect the status of zinc supply for the fetus. 70% is accumulated in the last trimester of pregnancy, so term neonates, especially premature neonates are at high risk of zinc deficiency. Several studies have shown that neonates zinc intake is related to maternal serum zinc status during pregnancy; there is a relationship between cord blood serum zinc concentration and birth weight, gestational age. Objectives: To investigate the serum zinc concentration of cord blood and examine several related factors. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional description on 244 umbilical cord blood samples from a mother-child pair of term term neonates born at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy during the period from January, 2019 to December, 2019. Results: The median cord blood serum zinc concentration in term neonates was 8.0 (3.8 – 12.0) μmol/l. The rate of zinc deficiency in cord blood was 64.3%. The median umbilical cord blood serum zinc concentration in small for gestational age (SGA) neonates was 2.9 (0.0 – 5.9) μmol/l, in appropriate for gestational age (AGA) neonates was 8.3 (4.2 – 12.2) μmol/l. 100% of SGA neonates have umbilical cord blood serum zinc deficiency. There is a relationship between cord blood zinc concentration and birth weight and length. There was no association between cord blood serum zinc concentration andsex, risk of neonatal infection, maternal disease, or fetal distress. Conclusion: The rate of zinc deficiency in cord blood is very high at 64.3%. Factors related to umbilical cord blood zinc concentration in term neonates were birth weight and length. Key words: zinc, umbilical cord blood, full-term newborn.