Hair chromium at delivery in relation to age and number of pregnancies.

To test the hypothesis that chromium deficiency may be cumulative with age and increasing parity, hair chromium levels were measured in 432 women at delivery. Although the levels in general were lower than those found in nonpregnant women there was no correlation between hair chromium level and age or number of pregnancies. Hair zinc levels were also measured to rule out zinc deficiency as a factor.