We hypothesize , therefore , that zinc homeostatic adjustments during pregnancy and lactation improve zinc utilization sufficiently to provide the increased zinc needs in these stages and , therefore , mitigate immediate detrimental effects due to a low zinc intake .
Zinc plays critical roles during embryogenesis , fetal growth , and milk secretion , which increase the zinc need for pregnancy and lactation .
Increased needs can be met by increasing the dietary zinc intake , along with making homeostatic adjustments in zinc utilization .
Potential homeostatic adjustments include changes in circulating zinc , increased zinc absorption , decreased zinc losses , and changes in whole body zinc kinetics .
Although severe zinc deficiency during pregnancy has devastating effects , systematic review s and meta- analysis of the effect of maternal zinc supplementation on pregnancy outcomes have consistently shown a limited benefit .
The specific questions addressed are the following : How is zinc utilization altered during pregnancy and lactation ?
Are those homeostatic adjustments influenced by maternal zinc status , dietary zinc , or zinc supplementation ?
Prenatal iron supplements impair zinc absorption in pregnant Peruvian women.
Prenatal iron supplements may adversely influence zinc absorption during pregnancy . To examine the impact of prenatal iron supplements on supplemental zinc absorption , fractional zinc absorption was measured in 47 pregnant Peruvian women during the third trimester of pregnancy ( 33 + /- 1 wk gestation ) . Of these 47 women , 30 received daily prenatal supplements  from wk 10 - 24 of pregnancy until delivery . Supplements contained 60 mg of Fe and 250 microg of folate without [ iron group ( Fe ) , n = 16 ] or with [ iron and zinc supplemented group ( Fe + Zn ) , n = 14 ] 15 mg of Zn . The remaining 17 women [ unsupplemented control group ( C ) ] received no prenatal supplementation .  Zinc concentrations were measured in plasma , urine and cord blood and percentage zinc absorption was determined following dosing with oral ( (67)Zn ) and intravenous ( (70)Zn ) stable zinc isotopes . Percentage zinc absorption was significantly lower than controls in fasting women receiving iron- containing prenatal supplements ( 20.5 + /- 6.4 vs. 20.2 + /- 4.6 vs. 47.0 + /- 12.6 % , Fe , Fe + Zn and C groups , respectively , P : < 0.0001 , n = 40 ) . Plasma zinc concentrations were also significantly lower in the Fe group compared to the C group ( 8.2 + /- 2.2 vs. 9.2 + /- 2.2 vs. 10.9 + /- 1 . 8 micromol/L , Fe , Fe + Zn and C groups , respectively , P : = 0.002 ) , and cord zinc concentrations were significantly related to maternal plasma Zn levels ( y = 6.383 + 0.555x , r = 0.486 , P : = 0.002 ) . The inclusion of zinc in prenatal supplements may reduce the potential for iron supplements to adversely influence zinc status in population s at risk for deficiency of both these nutrients
We hypothesize , therefore , that zinc homeostatic adjustments during pregnancy and lactation improve zinc utilization sufficiently to provide the increased zinc needs in these stages and , therefore , mitigate immediate detrimental effects due to a low zinc intake .
Zinc plays critical roles during embryogenesis , fetal growth , and milk secretion , which increase the zinc need for pregnancy and lactation .
Increased needs can be met by increasing the dietary zinc intake , along with making homeostatic adjustments in zinc utilization .
Potential homeostatic adjustments include changes in circulating zinc , increased zinc absorption , decreased zinc losses , and changes in whole body zinc kinetics .
Although severe zinc deficiency during pregnancy has devastating effects , systematic review s and meta- analysis of the effect of maternal zinc supplementation on pregnancy outcomes have consistently shown a limited benefit .
The specific questions addressed are the following : How is zinc utilization altered during pregnancy and lactation ?
Are those homeostatic adjustments influenced by maternal zinc status , dietary zinc , or zinc supplementation ?