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Serum alpha-tocopherol and selenium in Belgian infants and children
S Van Biervliet1, J P Van Biervliet, D Bernard
1Department of Pediatrics, AZ St-Jan, Brugge, Belgium.
Insights
Belgian children have low selenium (Se) levels, with infants showing high vitamin E and low Se. While Se levels increase with age, they remain below global averages, and no lipid peroxidation was detected.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Trace Element Metabolism
- Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress
Background:
- Previous studies indicated low selenium (Se) concentrations in Belgian children.
- Understanding Se status is crucial for pediatric health and development.
- Assessing lipid peroxidation signs is important in evaluating nutritional status.
Purpose of the Study:
- To further investigate selenium (Se) status in Belgian children.
- To examine Se, alpha-tocopherol, retinol, and lipid concentrations.
- To evaluate signs of peroxidative lipid damage in a pediatric subgroup.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples from 524 children (0-14 years) were analyzed during vaccination campaigns.
- Three age groups (0-1, 1-4, 4-14 years) were studied.
- Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were measured in 87 children to assess lipid peroxidation.
Main Results:
- Infants exhibited high serum alpha-tocopherol and low Se concentrations.
- Se concentrations significantly increased with age but remained low compared to international levels.
- No signs of serum lipid peroxidation were detected via malondialdehyde analysis.
Conclusions:
- Belgian children, particularly infants, have suboptimal selenium (Se) status.
- High alpha-tocopherol in infants may offer protection against lipid peroxidation.
- Further research is needed to address low Se levels in this population.
Abstract:
Previous studies showed low selenium (Se) concentrations in Belgian children. Serum alpha-tocopherol, retinol, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, selenium (Se), and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were examined. In order to obtain further information on the Se status in Belgian children, Se, alpha-tocopherol, retinol, and lipid concentrations were examined and signs of peroxidative lipid damage were evaluated in a subgroup. The study was performed in 524 children (0-14 yr old) during vaccination campaigns. Three age groups were analyzed: 0-1, 1-4, and 4-14 yr. In 87 of them, where sufficient amounts of serum were available, analysis of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances was done. Infants have high serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations: (23.2 micromol/L [median and interquartile range: 18.6-30.2]) and low Se concentrations (0.37 mol/L [0.27-0.47]). Se concentrations rise significantly during the first 4 yr (p < 0.0001) (Mann-Whitney U-test, tied p-values): 0.70 micromol/L (0.59-0.82); in the 4-14 yr olds, it was 0.75 micromol/L (0.67-0.86). These values remain low compared to results coming from other parts of the world. Alpha-tocopherol concentrations decrease significantly after infancy (p < 0.0001). The ratio alpha-tocopherol/total cholesterol is higher in infants. This is induced by the high vitamin E content of infant formulas. Signs of serum lipid peroxidation could not be detected by analysis of serum malondialdehyde concentrations. High alpha-tocopherol concentrations, as those observed in infant serum lipids, could be one of the protective mechanisms from the peroxidative lipid damages, sometimes observed in a low-Se status.
