Elevated zinc protoporphyrin/heme ratios in umbilical cord blood after diabetic pregnancy.

Objective: Offspring of diabetes patients may suffer from tissue iron deficiency. Erythrocyte zinc protoporphyrin/heme (ZuPP/H) ratios measure impaired iron status. The aim of the study was to examine whether cord ZnPP/H ratios were associated with pregnancy glycerine control. Methods: ZnPP/H was measured in cord blood from 31 pregnancies with insulin-treated diabetes (diabetes group) and compared to population normal values. Maternal glycemic control was assessed by daily glucose log, glycosylated hemoglobin and birth weight. Results: Median cord ZnPP/H was higher in the diabetes group than the population normal values (106 (65.2 to 146.8) μM/M vs 68.2 (37.6 to 98.8) μM/M, P<0.0001). Ratios were directly correlated to surrogates of control (glycosylated hemoglobin, P=0.05, and birth weight, P<0.04). Cord ZnPP/H ratios from pregnancies with pre-existing and gestational diabetes were similar. Conclusion: Because cord ZnPP/H was higher in large offspring of diabetic pregnancy, it might identify greater iron utilization for fetal erythropoiesis.