RESUMEN
This work was designed to assess the serum zinc and copper levels in pregnant Egyptian ladies at delivery and in their corresponding offspring as well as to study the effects of these elements on intrauterine fetal growth. Thirty full term small for gestational age neonates [SGA] were studied together with their mothers at delivery. They were compared to thirty eight full term appropriate for gestational age [AGA] neonates as well as their mothers. Mothers of both groups of studied neonates were compared to 20 non pregnant ladies as regards serum zinc and copper level. All cases and controls were subjected to detailed history taking from mothers and all deliveries were attended. All babies were examined to exclude acute and chronic complications. Anthropometric measurements were taken at birth. Laboratory investigations including assessment of serum zinc and copper levels by atomic absorption spectrophotometry were performed. The results proved that serum zinc levels were significantly lower in the group of SGA babies as well as their mothers than the group of AGA babies and their corresponding mothers. Similarly, both groups of delivered mothers had significantly lower zinc level than non pregnant ladies. Study of the copper levels in mothers and their neonates showed a tendency to increased levels beyond the normal upper limit in the group of both mothers of SGA and AGA babies with no such increase in their neonates. Our study confirmed that zinc status of mothers during pregnancy strongly affects the intrauterine growth of fetuses. This effect was mainly on weight, resulting in retardation of their growth in cases of mothers who suffered form hypozincemia. The end result was delivery of small for gestational age babies