Abstract :
Copper, iron, selenium and zinc are important trace elements during pregnancy. They function as antioxidants and play major roles in strengthening the immune system. This study evaluates the importance of these trace elements in the immune system and their concentrations during pregnancy. These trace elements were evaluated using 75 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki as Test participants and 75 non-pregnant women were used as control participants. The analysis was done using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The socio-demographic, Obstetrics and Gynaecological characteristics of the participants were obtained using questionnaire. A cross-sectional comparative study design was adopted for this. The results showed that the mean and standard deviation (M±SD) in mg / l of the test and control of trace elements (copper, iron, selenium and zinc) are; 0.13±0.03 and 0.38±0.03, 0.48±0.07 and 0.82±0.09, 0.86±0.11 and 0.94±0.07, 0.52±0.07 and 0.52±0.05 respectively. Also mean levels of Cu and Fe were significantly decreased in the pregnant women than in control (p=
Keyword :
Pregnant women, Trace elements, Trimester, Age, Parity, Copper, Iron, Selenium, Zinc