Copper Concentration in the Blood Serum of Low Birth Weight Newborns

Abstract

Until now in the information resources data on the reference values of the concentration of this essential trace element in biological fluids in low birth weight (LBW) newborns are absent. The purpose of our study was to study the copper content in serum in various categories of LBW children during the neonatal period. This prospective study included 173 newborns with LBW, including babies with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). The dynamic monitoring of copper concentration in the blood serum, as well as the analysis of these parameters depending on the birth weight has been performed. Quantitative determination of serum copper was carried out by the method of emission spectral analysis. When analyzing the level of copper in the blood serum on the 10th and 25th days of life, a lower content of this element was noted in extremely LBW children with (8.10±1.16 and 6.99±0.41, on the 10th and 25th days of life, respectively) and without IUGR (7.49±1.07 and 7.19±0.91, respectively). On the 25th day of life, serum copper levels were reduced in all groups of children (P<0.001). All LBW newborns and especially in children with IUGR has a deficiency of this micronutrient throughout the observation period. In newborns with ELBW or VLBW, there is a deficiency of serum copper throughout the neonatal period.