Abstract

Serum concentrations of zinc, magnesium, manganese and copper were determined in 33 cases of neonatal jaundice of unknown origin (Group I) and 40 cases of hemolytic jaundice (Group II), and in their mothers. Thirty three non-jaundice healthy term newborns and their mothers were taken as the control.. Serum zinc concentrations in neonates of group I were 1.280.04 mg/L. Corresponding concentrations in their mothers were 0.500.07mg/L. These concentrations were significantly lower than those of the control group and their mothers. These findings are good support for the idea that hypozincemia is related in some way to non-hemolytic jaundice. Mean manganese and magnesium concentrations in group I newborns and their mothers were higher than those in respective controls, but there was no difference regarding to copper concentrations. Although all of these parameters in group II newborns were significantly higher than those of the control group, mean serum magnesium and manganese concentrations in their mothers were significantly high and concentrations of zinc and copper were insignificantly found high. This increase seems to be related to hemolysis. We concluded that deficiency of zinc (but not deficiency of copper, manganese and magnesium) might play a role in the etiology of the neonatal idiopathic jaundice.