CAIRO: Some congenital defects in newborns have been attributed to low levels of both zinc and manganese in pregnant women, according to Dr Etidal Mahmoud Dawoud, a complementary medicine researcher. Deficiencies in zinc and manganese were detected in a number of cases of children suffering from chronic skin diseases, epilepsy and mental disabilities, said Dawoud, who is an assistant researcher in the complementary medicine department at the National Research Center in Cairo. "The problem starts from pregnancy and is caused by malnutrition as well as an inadequate intake of fresh vegetables and other foods that are rich in these two elements [such as proteins, nuts and whole grains], said Dawoud. Dawoud added that the deficiency is common among underprivileged mothers, who are not aware of the proper diet they need to follow during pregnancy. Research was conducted to determine the cause of some congenital defects, more specifically, to see how they are related to zinc and manganese deficiencies. "We began by testing the levels of manganese and zinc in pregnant women, said Dawoud. "In the maternity ward of El Qasr El Aini hospital, we conducted research on four groups: babies that are 28 days old or less, newborns with congenital defects, premature babies and full-term infants. Their mothers as well as married women who haven't gotten pregnant yet were also tested. Dawoud found that the levels of zinc and manganese in mothers of newborns with congenital defects were low compared to mothers in other groups. "This study drew attention to the effect of these two elements on the embryo's health, said Dawoud, stressing the importance of prescribing zinc and manganese supplements to pregnant women. She said that similar studies have to be conducted in other areas around the country before the issue can take the form of a national campaign. "We are expecting that the deficiency is likely to materialize in [mothers from] impoverished areas, and it is necessary to increase their awareness about it, she added. According to writer Abdel Fatah Anan, ancient Egyptians were the first to understand the importance of zinc, consuming high intakes of grain, milks, eggs, liver and meat. Anan added that the levels of zinc in fruits and vegetables have been affected by air and water pollutants. Soil absorbs less levels of zinc due to the use of lead in insecticides. White spots on nails, hair loss, skin diseases, fatigue, and learning disabilities among children are all results of zinc deficiency, Anan added.
