Study of Inter-relatedness between Hepato-renal Indices and Essential Minerals during the Last Trimester of Pregnancy

Purpose: Earlier on, it was reported that altered hepato-renal parameters and depletions of some nutrients co-existed at third trimester among the study participants. Yet the role low levels of nutrients played in altered hepato-renal axis (i.e. a possible association between the two) was not investigated. Even though liver is known for its physiologic importance in the metabolism of various metals and abnormal levels of certain elements also induce alterations in physiologic processes in specific organs. The study is aimed at investigating correlation between nutritional parameters (total protein, albumin, calcium, magnesium) and hepato-renal indices (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, urea and creatinine) at the last trimester of pregnancy.

Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study.

Methods/Participants: Forty pregnant women in the third trimester (29 weeks to term) were recruited as test group while another group of 40 women (age-matched, non-pregnant) served as control. 5 mL of blood was collected and used for estimation of nutritional indices and hepato-renal markers. Information on birth weight was obtained. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. P≤ 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Data obtained from the study revealed that there were no correlations between any nutritional marker and hepato-renal indices. Similarly, nutritional markers were not correlated with birth weight.

Conclusion: There is no indication that there is a relationship between abnormal nutritional markers and indices of nephro-hepatic activities in third trimester women that had earlier being reported to feature abnormal liver and kidney function.