The role of essential metals in the placental transfer of lead from mother to child.

[ema-adama]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20347956

Reprod Toxicol. (javascript:AL_get(this,%20'jour',%20'Reprod%20Tox icol.');) 2010 Mar 27. [Epub ahead of print]
The role of essential metals in the placental transfer of lead from mother to child.

Lin CM (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Lin%20CM%22%5BAuthor%5D), Doyle P (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Doyle%20P%22%5BAuthor%5D), Wang D (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Wang%20D%22%5BAuthor%5D), Hwang YH (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Hwang%20YH%22%5BAuthor%5D), Chen PC (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Chen%20PC%22%5BAuthor%5D).
Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom.
Abstract

Epidemiological studies have found adverse birth and child health outcomes from prenatal lead exposure, but little is known about factors influencing placental transfer. In this study we describe the placental transfer of lead in a Taiwanese population, and investigate whether three essential metals - zinc, manganese, or selenium - influence transfer. Maternal and cord blood samples (308 pairs) from a birth cohort study were analyzed using multiple linear regression. There was a clear correlation between mother and child lead concentration (r=0.48, p<0.001), although lead concentration in cord blood (mean=1.29, SD=0.72mug/dL) was lower than that for mothers (mean=1.58, SD=1.11mug/dL). Cord blood lead was lower where the mother had a higher blood concentration of zinc (p<0.001) or manganese (p=0.02). Thus maternal blood zinc and manganese, but not selenium, appeared to decrease the placental transfer of lead. These findings raise the possibility of reducing placental transfer of lead by increasing zinc levels via nutritional supplementation during pregnancy. Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier Inc.

PMID: 20347956 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]


I am wanting to look more carefully at what I can find about the role of zinc during the prenatal period. This looks reassuring from the abstract... I'll see what else I can find.

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

I wonder if they look at the whole vitamin C + mineral = glutathione and heavy metal detox stuff?

Will have a look too.

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

J Trop Pediatr. (http://javascript<b></b>:AL_get(this, 'jour', 'J Trop Pediatr.');) 2008 Oct;54(5):300-7. Epub 2008 Mar 18.
Longitudinal study of prenatal and postnatal lead exposure and early cognitive development in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia: a preliminary results of cord blood lead levels.

Al-Saleh I (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Al-Saleh%20I%22%5BAuthor%5D), Shinwari N (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Shinwari%20N%22%5BAuthor%5D), Nester M (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Nester%20M%22%5BAuthor%5D), Mashhour A (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Mashhour%20A%22%5BAuthor%5D), Moncari L (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Moncari%20L%22%5BAuthor%5D), El Din Mohamed G (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22El%20Din%20Mohamed%20G%22%5BAuthor% 5D), Rabah A (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Rabah%20A%22%5BAuthor%5D).
Biological & Medical Research Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, 3354, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. iman@kfshrc.edu.sa
Abstract

Extensive data shows a direct link between low-level lead exposure during early development and deficits in neurobehavioral-cognitive performance evident late in childhood through adolescence. Our previous studies confirmed the transfer of lead from the mother to the fetus as well as the effect of low lead exposure on neuropsychological behavior in school children. Such results led us to design a longitudinal survey to evaluate the effect of prenatal and/or postnatal lead exposure on early cognitive development among selected group of children from birth to 2 years of age. During the first stage of this study (between March and July 2004), we measured lead levels in 653 umbilical cord blood samples taken from healthy Saudi mothers delivering at King Khalid Hospital, Al-Kharj. This gave a good opportunity to look at the prevalence of increased blood lead levels in umbilical cord blood and to identify risk factors for prenatal lead exposure. The mean cord lead levels were 2.21 +/- 1.691 microg/dl in the range of 0.284-17.276 microg/dl. Only 1.23% of the newborns had blood lead levels >10 microg/dl, the Center for Disease Control level of concern. To investigate risk factors affecting cord blood lead levels, only subjects with lead levels above the 75th percentile (2.475 microg/dl) were selected in the multiple regression models. We observed that cord blood lead levels were significantly influenced by maternal age, the location of residence and intake of prenatal supplements. Controlling for newborn's head circumferences confounders, it was found that cord blood lead levels were significantly and negatively associated with newborn's head circumference (beta = -0.158, p = 0.036). The negative association was seen between intake of prenatal supplements and cord blood lead levels emphasizing the role of prenatal supplementations during pregnancy. The significant reductions in newborns, head circumferences due to lead exposure may have serious implications for their future performance and achievement. This study reveals that even at low prenatal lead exposure, all possible measures to inspect lead sources in our environment and reduce lead exposure should be taken.

PMID: 18353786 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[ema-adama]

Hmm, thanks for that.

I have not settled on whether I am going to supplement minerals yet (zinc and magnesium come to mind). I am hoping my diet will be a rich enough source, and that the absence of phytic acid in my diet will be in my favour. Essentially I am relying on eating liver once a week (although I am open to eating it more often if anyone has any ideas on how often to eat it).

I am taking vit C, fish oils and FCLO (although this is not actually happening at the moment. The fisy smell/taste is overhwleming me) and thinking of milk thistle to support my liver through pregnancy.

Tiredness is setting in, so I'm cutting back on surfing medical databases. I'll get back on it when the tiredness phase is over.

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

From week8 to about 20, every day, after lunch all I'd want to do was sleeeeeppppppppppppp....

I'd toss the fish. No point in puking every time you get near it.