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Maternal-Fetal Distribution of Calcium, Iron, Copper, and Zinc in Pregnant Teenagers and Adults

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Abstract

Adolescence is marked by intensive growth and development. When pregnancy occurs during this period of the mother’s growth, there is an increase in her nutritional needs. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of calcium, iron, copper, and zinc in maternal plasma, the placenta, and in the cord plasma of pregnant teenagers and adults. A total of 80 sets of maternal plasma, placentas, and cord plasma (40 from teenagers and 40 from adults) were analyzed using synchrotron radiation total reflection X-ray fluorescence. The levels of calcium, copper, and zinc in the maternal and cord plasma from teenagers were not significantly different than those from adults. Iron levels in the teenagers maternal and cord plasma were higher than in the adults. All of the minerals analyzed were present at higher levels in the placentas from adults than those from teenagers. However, the low quantities of placental calcium, iron, copper, and zinc in the teenagers do not compromise the levels of these minerals in the cord plasma. Future research regarding the placental transport of these minerals is recommended to investigate the efficiency of mechanisms of transfer of these minerals in pregnant teenagers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Biochemical Nutrition, Josué de Castro Institute of Nutrition, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Milena Lima de Moraes, Raquel Espírito Santo, Flávia da Silva Santos, Fátima Lúcia de Carvalho Sardinha & Maria das Graças Tavares do Carmo

  2. Laboratory of Nuclear Instrumentation, Technology Center, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Renata de Faria Barbosa & Edgar Francisco Oliveira de Jesus

  3. Institute of Physics, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Renata de Faria Barbosa

  4. Instituto de Nutrição Josué de Castro (UFRJ), Laboratório de Bioquímica Nutricional, Av. Brigadeiro Trompowski, s/n-CCS, Bloco J, 2º andar-Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, Cep.: 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Maria das Graças Tavares do Carmo

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  1. Milena Lima de Moraes
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  2. Renata de Faria Barbosa
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  3. Raquel Espírito Santo
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  4. Flávia da Silva Santos
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  5. Edgar Francisco Oliveira de Jesus
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  6. Fátima Lúcia de Carvalho Sardinha
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  7. Maria das Graças Tavares do Carmo
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Correspondence to Maria das Graças Tavares do Carmo.

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de Moraes, M.L., de Faria Barbosa, R., Santo, R.E. et al. Maternal-Fetal Distribution of Calcium, Iron, Copper, and Zinc in Pregnant Teenagers and Adults. Biol Trace Elem Res 139, 126–136 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-010-8649-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-010-8649-6

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