Serum concentration of zinc in healthy pregnant women versus pre-eclamptic pregnant women: a case control study in Lahore, Pakistan

Objective: To find out serum zinc level in healthy pregnant women and pre-eclemptic pregnant women

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Study Design: Ramdomized controlled trial study

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Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at Department of Pathology, Lady Willingdon Hospital, Lahore and at Lahore College for Women University, Lahore from March 2015 to September 2015

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Materials and Methods: Size of sample was determined statistically by using table and119 [102 experimental group[51 pre-eclamptic pregnant women and 51 normal pregnant women] and 17 control group] blood samples were collected randomly

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Results: The average zinc concentration in healthy pregnant group was found 1.44 +/- 0.14 mg/l as compared to pre- eclamptic pregnant group 0.25 +/- 0.02 mg/l. In pregnant women average zinc concentration was found to be decreasing with trimester. The average systolic blood pressure in healthy pregnant women was 113.83 +/- 1.74 mm/Hg as compared to the pre-eclamptic pregnant women was 145.34 +/- 1.68 mm/Hg. Average diastolic blood pressure in healthy pregnant women, was found 75.23 +/- 1.46 mm/Hg as compared to pre-eclamptic pregnant women, which was 92.76 +/- 1.80 mm/Hg

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Conclusion: Zinc level in the blood serum of pre-eclamptic pregnant women was found lower as compared to healthy pregnant women. Low blood serum zinc level is associated with the elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure also