ABSTRACT
Zinc and copper belong to the essential trace metals needed for optimal growth and development. Measurement of serum zinc and copper in maternal blood and cord blood of neonates was carried out to study and compare the level of trace metals in term and preterm neonates and their mothers. 152 healthy neonates, both term and preterm and their mothers were selected. Measurement of serum zinc and copper was carried out by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The mean serum zinc level in the term neonates and their mothers was 0.83 microg/ml and 0.62 microg/ml respectively. The mean serum zinc level in the preterm neonates and their mothers was 0.78 microg/ml and 0.47 microg/ml respectively. The mean serum copper level in the term neonates and their mothers was 0.55 microg/ml and 2.29 microg/ml respectively. The mean serum copper level in the preterm neonates and their mothers was 0.63 microg/ml and 2.17 microg/ml respectively. Cord blood zinc level was significantly higher and cord blood copper level was significantly lower than the corresponding maternal blood levels [p<0.05]. There was no significant difference between cord blood zinc and copper levels in term and preterm neonates. The serum levels of zinc in both maternal and cord blood seem to be lower in our sample population compared to the levels found by other authors