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Zn is an essential element for human growth. The nutritional adequacy of dietary Zn depends not only on the total Zn intake, but also on the type of food source (i.e. of plant or animal origin). We investigated the association between maternal dietary Zn intake from animal and plant food sources and fetal
growth.
A total of 918 pregnant women at 12–28 weeks of gestation were selected from the Mothers and Children's Environmental Health study in
Korea.
Dietary intakes in mid-pregnancy were estimated by a 24 h recall method, and subsequent birth weight and height were obtained from medical records. Multiple regression analysis showed that maternal Zn intake from animal food sources and their proportions relative to total Zn intake were positively associated with birth weight (P = 0·034 and 0·045, respectively) and height (P = 0·020 and 0·032, respectively). Conversely, the percentage of Zn intake from plant food sources relative to total Zn intake was negatively associated with birth height (P = 0·026) after adjustment for covariates that may affect fetal growth. The molar ratio of phytate:Zn was negatively associated with birth weight (P = 0·037). In conclusion, we found that the absolute amounts of Zn from different food sources (e.g. animal or plant) and their proportions relative to total Zn intake were significantly associated with birth weight and
height.
In conclusion, we found that the maternal dietary Zn intake from animal foods may have a positive effect on fetal growth. Therefore, an adequate Zn intake from animal foods that are particularly rich sources of Zn should be recommended for pregnant women to promote optimal fetal growth. The findings of the present study could help in the further development of public health policies to improve nutritional status of Zn during pregnancy.
Authors
Yo A Lee (a1), Ji-Yun Hwang (a1), Hyesook Kim (a1), Eun-Hee Ha (a2), Hyesook Park 8a2), Mina Ha (a3), Yangho Kim (a4), Yun-Chul Hong (a5) and Namsoo Chang (a1)
(a1) Department of Nutritional Science and Food Management, Ewha Womans University, 11-1 Daehyun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-750, Republic of Korea
(a2) Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
(a3) Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
(a4) Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
(a5) Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of
Korea.
Source
Yo A Lee, Ji-Yun Hwang, Hyesook Kim, Eun-Hee Ha, Hyesook Park, Mina Ha, Yangho Kim, Yun-Chul Hong and Namsoo Chang Relationships of maternal zinc intake from animal foods with fetal growth. British Journal of Nutrition, Available on CJO 2006
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=6&fid=8133734&jid=BJN&volumeId=-1&issueId=-1&aid=8133733&bodyId=&membershipNumber=&societyETOCSession=&fulltextType=RA&fileId=S0007114510005878
Other pages
Minerals: what they do and where to find them
Nutrient bioavailability - getting the most out of food
(MDN)
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