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. 2015 Oct 14;15:157. doi: 10.1186/s12887-015-0474-9

Table 3.

Infants’ and mothers’ serum Zn, Cu, and Fe, and hair Zn and Cu levels

Maternal (n = 35) Total (n = 105) Infants (n = 35) Total (n = 105)
Months after delivery 2 6 12 2 6 12
Serum Zn (μmol/L)a 15.00 ± 3.10c 14.80 ± 1.50c 14.10 ± 3.10c 14.7 ± 2.75c 13.30 ± 1.50d 13.60 ± 3.10d 13.50 ± 3.10 d 13.30 ± 2.70 d
Serum Cu (μmol/L)a 19.70 ± 4.70e 18.70 ± 3.10e 18,3 ± 3.30e 19 ± 3.3e 14.6 ± 3.10f 17.20 ± 3.30f 18.00 ± 3.10f 16.50 ± 3.10f
Serum Fe (μmol/L)a 13.10 ± 5.6g 13.71 ± 5.40g 12.10 ± 5.60g 13 ± 3.8g 12.4 ± 3.80h 8.70 ± 3.20h 8.5. ± 3.70h 9.85 ± 4.10h
Hair Zn (μmol/g)b (median; 95 % CI lower-upper level) 1.48 ± 0.67i (1.50;1.28–1.72) 1.84 ± 0.75i (1.65;1.60–2.10) 1.76 ± 0.80i (1.54;1.50–20) 1.70 ± 0.74i (1.50;1.56–1.84) 1.30 ± 0.73j (1.27; 1.06–1.55) 1.02 ± 0.50j (0.86; 0.87–1.18) 0.77 ± 0.30j (0.79;0.67–0.86) 1.03 ± 0.60j (0.88;0.92–1.14)
Hair Cu (μmol/g)b (median; 95 % CI lower-upper level) 0.20 ± 0.11k (0.17;0.16–0.24) 0.22 ± 0.11k (0.19; 0.18–0.26) 0.17 ± 0.19k (0.15;0.11–0.19) 0.20 ± 0.11k (0.17;0.18–0.22) 0.32 ± 0.14l (0.32;0.24–0.34) 0.34 ± 0.16l (0.32;0.28–0.39) 0.25 ± 0.13l (0.25;0.22–0.32) 0.30 ± 0.16l (0.25;0.27–0.33)

Values are mean ± SD unless stated otherwise

aRepeated ANOVA and the paired sample t-test were used to compare serum Zn, Cu, and Fe levels

bχ2 Friedmanand Wilcoxon rank tests were used for hair analysis

cF2,6 = 0.66, p > 0.05; F2,12 = 2.42, p > 0.05, t 6,12: 1,24, p > 0.05

dF2,6 = 0.70, p > 0.05; F2,12 = 0.61, p > 0.05, t 6,12: 0.09, p > 0.05

eF2,6 = 2.07, p > 0.05; F2,12=3.65, p > 0.05;t 6,12: 0.99, p > 0.05

fF2,6 = 8.65, p < 0.01; F2,12=28.03, p > 0.001;t 6,12: 1,29, p > 0.05

gF2,6 = 0.47, p > 0.05; F2,12=0.64, p > 0.05;t 6,12: 1,28, p > 0.05

hF2,6 = 21.9, p < 0.001; F2,12=17.35, p < 0.001;t 6,12: 0.36, p > 0.05

iχ 2 Friedman = 9.77, p < 0.05; Z2,6 = 2.57, p < 0.05, Z2,12 = 2.58, p < 0.05

j χ2 Friedman = 19.94, p < 0.001; Z2,6 = 2.06, p < 0.05, Z6,12 = 2.53, p < 0.01, Z2,12 = 4.09, p < 0.001

kχ 2 Friedman = 10.7, p < 0.005; Z2,6 = 2.12, p < 0.05, Z 2,12 = 2.24, p < 0.05, Z 6,12 = 3.00, p < 0.005

lχ 2 Friedman = 8,56, p < 0.05; Z6,12 = 3.15, p < 0.05, Z 2,12 = 2351, p < 0.5