الفهرس 
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Abstract
Zinc is an essential nutrient required for normal development and growth. It has risen in importance to join vitamin A, iodine, and iron among the micronutrients whose deficiency problems must be addressed.The requirement for zinc increases with pregnancy because it is essential for growth and development of the fetus and maternal tissue accretion and during the past few decades, many investigators have evaluated the relation between maternal zinc nutriture and pregnancy outcome in humans and animals. There is considerable information from studies of animals with severe zinc deficiency and suggestive evidence from human observational studies and intervention trials to indicate that maternal zinc nutriture can influence several aspects of reproductive function and pregnancy outcome. This influence reflects the role of zinc in cell metabolism and replication, immunocompetence, prostaglandin synthesis and function, nucleic acid metabolism, and estrogen- dependent gene expression. The present research was designed to conduct a cross-sectional study on the relationship of maternal zinc nutriture to labor process and pregnancy outcome in some females giving birth in Alexandria, using the dietary, clinical and biochemical indicators. The study was carried out in 2 hospitals, comprised 300 women, 20- 40 years of age. A precoded schedule was used to collect information concerning the mothers and newborns. It included: • Socioeconomic data: the socioeconomic status was assessed according to a score modified after Fahmy and El Sherbini 1983. • Data concerning current pregnancy and labor. • Data concerning newborn condition including accurate measurement of weight, length and head circumference. Anthropometric results were compared to the NCHS standards. • Dietary data were collected using a semiquantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire. The nutritive value of the daily diet was computed using the Egyptian Food Composition Tables 1996. Nutrient intake was considered adequate when ?75