The Comparison Between Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood Levels of Zinc and Copper in Active Labour Versus Elective Caesarean Section

Background: Multivitamin administration in the periconceptional time was correlated with 16% decrement risk of premature deliveries. This study was aimed to investigate maternal and umbilical cord blood levels of zinc and copper in active labour versus elective caesarean. Patients and Methods: A case-control study was carried out in Salah Al-deen general hospital form February to September 2020. The study included full term pregnant ladies with active labour or prepared for elective caesarean attending the labour unit in Salah Al-deen general hospital. A total of 60 full term pregnant ladies divided into two groups consist of: (30) women in active vaginal delivery women, and group of (30) women prepared for elective caesarean section. Trace elements’ levels were evaluated utilizing the spectrophotometry. Results: The mean maternal serum zinc level among vaginal delivery group was (87.45±14.99) μg/dL versus (87.84±13.8) μg/dL among caesarean group. The mean umbilical zinc level among vaginal delivery group was (90.34±22.56) μg/dL and was higher among caesarean group (88.8±31.9) μg/dL. The mean maternal serum copper level among vaginal delivery group (83.82±14.02) μg/dL was lower than among caesarean group (127.57±37.23) μg/dL. Conclusion: There was higher mean umbilical cord zinc than the maternal zinc level. The mean umbilical cord zinc was lower than the maternal zinc among caesarean group. There was significantly lower mean umbilical cord copper than the maternal copper level among vaginal delivery group and the caesarean group. There was a positive significant correlation between maternal zinc level and umbilical zinc level. There was positive significant correlation between maternal copper level and umbilical copper level. Therefore, trace elements may play an essential function in the human parturition process