The analysis of selected microelements in neonatal umbilical cord blood

Microelements and trace elements play a vital role in the body. Low quantities of these elements are essential to ensure proper metabolic processes. The aim of the thesis was to determine levels of selected microelements (zinc, copper, iron, manganese, chromium and aluminium) in cord blood plasma, and to find out if the gestational age, gender and birth weight of a newborn affect these concentrations. The research was conducted on the cord blood of 71 newborns. Regarding the gesta- tional age, three groups were distinguished: I ? neonates born after 37 week of pregnancy ( n =7), II ? neonates born between 38 and 41 week ( n =59), and III ? neonates born after 42 week of pregnancy ( n =5). Subsequently, another division concerned the gender: male ( n =35) and female ( n =36) neonates, as well as their weight: neonates with regular birth weight ? 2.500-3.500 g ( n =61), and neonates with high birth weight ? over 3.500 g ( n =10). The concentrations of zinc, copper, iron, manganese, chromium, and aluminium in cord blood plasma were determined on the basis of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy method. The results were subjected to statistical analysis using Statistica 10.0 software, with the assumption that the level of significance was p <0.05. The average concentrations of analysed elements in umbilical cord blood were the following: 18.67±3.05 µmol Zn dm ?3 , 16.60±2.64 µmol Cu dm ?3 , 23.32±3.29 µmol Fe dm ?3 , 0.96±0.21 µmol Mn dm ?3 , 2.81±0.14 µmol Cr dm ?3 and 0.041±0.028 µmol Al dm ?3 , which is within the standard ranges, suggesting efficient regulating mechanisms of the developing foetuses. The research proved that the neonate?s gestational age, gender and birth weight had no substantial impact on concentrations of these elements in the cord blood, except the concentration of iron, which was statistically significantly correlated with the gender of neonates.