Zinc, vitamin B-6, and other nutrients in pregnant women attending prenatal clinics in Mexico.

ABSTRACT

PIP: Biochemical measurements and 24 hour dietary recalls were conducted early (18.9 +0- 5.9 weeks) and late (35.1 +or- 2.0 weeks) in pregnancy in women attending clinics in Montemorelos, Mexico. Mean weight gain per week (0.4 +or- 0.2 kg) and birth weight (3381 +or- 456 grams) were normal. Intakes tended to decline during pregnancy and declined significantly for zinc (p 0.05) and vitamin B-6 (p 0.03). Mean zinc intake late in pregnancy was low (7.8 +or- 3.3 mg/d). Various supplements were taken but none contained zinc. During pregnancy mean plasma zinc levels fell (p 0.001) and late in pregnancy 57% of the women had values suggestive of poor zinc status (or= 8.1 micromoles/liter). These data indicate that zinc intakes of approximately 8 mg/d will not maintain plasma zinc levels in late pregnancy. Erythrocyte glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (EGPT) index and the index of diamine oxidase (DAO), a vitamin B-6-requiring enzyme of placental origin, were correlated suggesting that DAO index may be useful in evaluating vitamin B-6 status in pregnancy.