Association of selenium, zinc and copper concentrations during pregnancy with birth weight: A systematic review and meta-analysis

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Association of selenium, zinc and copper concentrations during pregnancy with birth weight: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Atazadegan et al., 2022 | J Trace Elem Med Biol | Meta Analysis

Citation

Atazadegan Mohammad Amin, Heidari-Beni Motahar, ... Kelishadi Roya. Association of selenium, zinc and copper concentrations during pregnancy with birth weight: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2022-Jan;69:126903. doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2021.126903

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Normal fetal growth is associated with maternal nutrition. Trace elements play important roles in fetus growth. This review aims to provide a summary of the literature evaluating the relation between selenium, zinc and copper levels during pregnancy with birth weight. METHOD: A systematic literature search was conducted in Medline database (PubMed), Scopus, Web of science and Google scholar up to September 2020. Fifty observational studies were included in the final analyses. The desired pooled effect size was considered as standardized mean differences with 95 % CI or correlation. Cochran's Q statistic was used to test the heterogeneity between the included studies (I2). RESULT: A significant differences were found between pooled standardized mean differences (SMD) of umbilical cord blood copper levels in small-for-gestational age birth weight (SGA) and appropriate-for-gestational age birth weight (AGA) (SMD: 0.34 μg/L, 95 % CI: 0.13 to 0.56). There was a significant pooled correlation between umbilical cord blood selenium concentrations and birth weight (r: 0.08, 95 % CI: 0.01 to 0.16). A significant pooled correlation was found between umbilical cord blood zinc concentrations and birth weight (r: 0.09, 95 % CI: 0.04 to 0.15), with significant heterogeneity (I2 % = 0.63). There was significant positive association between maternal blood zinc concentrations and birth weight. CONCLUSION: Findings showed the association of trace elements including selenium, zinc and copper during pregnancy with birth weight. There was significant correlation between umbilical cord and maternal blood selenium and zinc levels with birth weight. The umbilical cord blood copper levels in SGA birth weight was higher than copper levels in AGA birth weight.

Key Findings

Findings showed the association of trace elements including selenium, zinc and copper during pregnancy with birth weight. There was significant correlation between umbilical cord and maternal blood selenium and zinc levels with birth weight. The umbilical cord blood copper levels in SGA birth weight was higher than copper levels in AGA birth weight.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Birth Weight
  • Copper
  • Female
  • Fetal Blood
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Selenium
  • Trace Elements
  • Zinc

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: zinc

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09