Kojima C, et al. – This report highlighted the relationship between serum copper (Cu) or zinc (Zn) levels and gestational age (GA), anthropometric parameters at birth in preterm infants. Investigations revealed the influence of prematurity on Zn levels and the impact of intrauterine head growth restriction on Cu levels at birth in preterm infants. However, further research work was required to determine the relationship between intrauterine growth restriction and brain Cu metabolism.

Methods

• This study included infants less than 35 weeks GA from January 2010 to August 2012.
• Data was accumulated from medical records of 59 preterm infants at birth including GA, anthropometric parameters, serum levels of Cu and Zn.
• Correlations of the levels of Cu, Zn, and GA with anthropometric parameters at birth were analyzed.

Results

• Zn levels were inversely associated with GA, body weight (BW), body length (BL), and head circumference (HC).
• Cu levels were inversely correlated with the standard deviation (SD) score for BW, BL, and HC.
• A stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that GA was a significant independent predictor of Zn levels and that the SD score for HC was a significant independent predictor of Cu levels.