Background: Considering to the importance of trace elements during pregnancy, this study aimed to assess the relationship between serum levels of zinc, copper, magnesium, iron and calcium in maternal and umbilical cord blood and their deficiency prevalence.

Materials and Methods: This Analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 344 pregnant women in labor and their neonates in Maryam, Akbarabadi and Imam hospitals in Tehran, Iran. The concentrations of Zinc, Copper, magnesium, Iron and Calcium in maternal and umbilical cord blood were measured. Data were collected using a questionnaire.

Results: Of all the mothers, 26.7% had zinc deficiency, 53.5% copper deficiency, 72.4% magnesium deficiency, 0.6% Iron deficiency, 49.4% Calcium deficiency and of all the newborns, 3.5% had zinc deficiency, 41.6% copper deficiency, 67.4% magnesium deficiency, 3.2% Iron deficiency and 2.3% Calcium deficiency. Spearman correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between the concentration of each element in maternal serum with cord serum and there was a significant correlation between some of the elements in maternal and cord serum. Also linear regression between each element in maternal serum together showed a significant positive correlation between maternal copper and Iron (P<.001), maternal zinc and Iron (P<.001), maternal magnesium and copper (P=.006), maternal magnesium and calcium (P<.001) and also there was a significant negative correlation between maternal zinc and calcium (P<.001).

Conclusion: Results show that the copper, zinc, magnesium and calcium deficiency is prevalent in mothers which causes to more complications during pregnancy. It is recommended to perform more research with more samples and in different settings.