Amniotic fluid levels of selected trace elements and heavy metals in pregnancies complicated with neural tube defects

The aims of this study were to determine the levels of trace elements and heavy metals, namely aluminum (Al), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), molybdenum (Mo), cadmium (Cd), tin (Sn), antimony (Sb), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb), in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women, and to investigate their relationship with neural tube defects (NTDs). The study included 36 pregnant women whose fetuses were complicated with NTDs (study group) and 39 pregnant women with unaffected healthy fetuses (control group), who were matched for body mass index and gestational weeks. The amniotic fluid levels of trace elements and heavy metals were measured using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and compared between the two groups. Significantly lower mean levels of Zn and Mo and significantly higher levels of Al, Sn, Sb, and Hg in the study group than in the healthy control group were observed, which implied that these elements are possibly correlated with risk factors for the occurrence of NTDs. In contrast, there were no significant differences in the levels of Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, As, Cd, and Pb between the groups (P >= .05).