534 Copper and cobalt content, morphological and structural features of hair of children born with low birth weight

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood Vol. 106; no. Suppl 1; pp. A33 - A34
• Main Authors: Abdul-Rahman, Toufik, Wireko, Andrew Awuah, Plakhuta, Valentina, Shkolna, Iryna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health 01-10-2021; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Abstracts; Atomic absorption spectrophotometry; Birth weight; Body weight; Children; Cobalt; Copper; Cuticles; Developed countries; Developed Nations; Gestational age; Hair; Health problems; Infants; Low birth weight; Morphology; Pediatrics; Pregnancy; Premature birth; Premature Infants; Scanning electron microscopy; Spectral analysis; Spectrophotometry; Young Children
• ISSN: 0003-9888; 1468-2044
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2021-rcpch.56

BackgroundBody weight at birth is a powerful predictor of infant growth and development. Low birth weight (BMI) at birth is one of the most serious health problems in both developing and developed countries. About 20 million low birth weight (<2500 g) children are born worldwide each year. MMT is an important indicator for monitoring the health of preterm infants (<37 weeks gestation). There are many causes of premature birth, one of which is dysmicroelementosis.ObjectivesStudy of the content of cobalt and copper, as well as morphological features in the hair of children born with MMT at 32–36 weeks of gestation.MethodsThe material (hair) was taken from 10 children who were born prematurely with MMT at 32–36 weeks of gestation (group I) on the first day of life. The comparison group consisted of healthy infants born at gestational age> 37 weeks (group II). The method of scanning electron microscopy was used to determine morphological and structural features. The content of cobalt and copper was investigated using the method of atomic absorption spectrophotometry on a spectrophotometer C-115M1.ResultsThe average copper and hair content of children born with MMT at 32–36 weeks of gestation was 22.13 ± 1.08 μg/g, which is 1.2 times less than in the comparison group (26.92 ± 0.88 μg/g; p <0.05).Regarding the indicators of cobalt content in group I, they were 0.015 ± 0.0032 μg/g, which is 2.3 times less than in the comparison group (0.034 ± 0.0023 μg/g; p <0.05).When studying the hair of children in group I noted their concave shape, with jagged edges. The horny scales of the cuticle were thin and wide and stretched across the width of the hair. Minor surface defects were noted. The cuticle pattern was poorly visualized in places. Examination of hair samples of children of group II at the ultramicroscopic level showed a uniformly smooth, shiny surface. The hair had a regular cylindrical shape, a ribbon-shaped cuticle, the pattern of which was clearly visualized due to the orderly arrangement of the horny scales. The edges of the hair are smooth, without jags. The average hair diameter of children in group I (32.5 ± 1.75 μm) was 1.25 times smaller than in group II (40.7 ± 0.59 μm; p <0.05).ConclusionsThus, there is a deficiency of copper and cobalt in the hair of children born with MMT at 32–36 weeks of gestation. The diameter of the hair in these children is smaller than in those born on time. That is, structural and morphological immaturity of hair, deficiency of nutrients involved in its formation may be one of the factors of premature birth.