Maternal Selenium, Copper and Zinc Concentrations in Early Pregnancy, and the Association with Fertility.

ABSTRACT: Trace elements such as zinc, copper, and selenium are essential for reproductive health, but there is limited work examining how circulating trace elements may associate with fertility in humans. The aim of this study was to determine the association between maternal plasma concentrations of zinc, copper, and selenium, and time to pregnancy and subfertility. Australian women (n = 1060) who participated in the multi-centre prospective Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints study were included. Maternal plasma concentrations of copper, zinc and selenium were assessed at 15 ± 1 weeks' gestation. Estimates of retrospectively reported time to pregnancy were documented as number of months to conceive; subfertility was defined as taking more than 12 months to conceive. A range of maternal and paternal

SUBMITTER: Grieger JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6683068 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature