Copper to Zinc Ratio As Disease Biomarker in Neonates with Early-Onset Congenital Infections

Overview

Journal Nutrients

Date 2017 Mar 31

PMID 28358335

Citations 18

Authors

Monika Wisniewska

Malte Cremer

Lennart Wiehe

Niels-Peter Becker

Eddy Rijntjes

Janine Martitz

Kostja Renko

Christoph Buhrer

Lutz Schomburg

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are essential trace elements for regular development. Acute infections alter their metabolism, while deficiencies increase infection risks. A prospective observational case-control study was conducted with infected ( = 21) and control ( = 23) term and preterm newborns. We analyzed trace element concentrations by X-ray fluorescence, and ceruloplasmin (CP) by Western blot. Median concentration of Cu at birth (day 1) was 522.8 [387.1-679.7] μg/L, and Zn was 1642.4 ± 438.1 μg/L. Cu and Zn correlated positively with gestational age in control newborns. Cu increased in infected newborns from day 1 to day 3. CP correlated positively to Cu levels at birth in both groups and on day 3 in the group of infected neonates. The Cu/Zn ratio was relatively high in infected newborns. Interleukin (IL)-6 concentrations on day 1 were unrelated to Cu, Zn, or the Cu/Zn ratio, whereas C-reactive protein (CRP) levels on day 3 correlated positively to the Cu/Zn -ratio at both day 1 and day 3. We conclude that infections affect the trace element homeostasis in newborns: serum Zn is reduced, while Cu and CP are increased. The Cu/Zn ratio combines both alterations, independent of gestational age. It may, thus, constitute a meaningful diagnostic biomarker for early-onset infections.

Citing Articles

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Individual and combined association between nutritional trace metals and the risk of preterm birth in a recurrent pregnancy loss cohort.

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Copper/Zinc Ratio in Childhood and Adolescence: A Review.

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