Role of Zinc in Low Birth Weight

Abstract

Zinc a potent antioxidant a needed for cellular metabolism particularly to need the need of low birth weight children. More than 80% do have Zn deficiency in the last trimester of pregnancy. Studies of the effects of zinc supplementation during pregnancy have shown inconsistent results, possibly in part because of the challenges in establishing baseline zinc status in populations. However, zinc supplementation had no apparent effect on other infant outcomes including neonatal mortality, mean gestational age or any parameter of fetal growth such as risk of low birth weight or mean weight, length or head circumference at birth, or on primary maternal outcomes such as pre-eclampsia.