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Plasma selenium in preterm and term infants during the first 12 months of life
E Sievers1, T Arpe, U Schleyerbach
1Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kinderklinik, Germany.
Insights
Plasma selenium (Se) levels are significantly lower in preterm infants compared to term infants during their first year. These findings support selenium monitoring and supplementation for preterm infants, especially before hospital discharge.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Trace Element Metabolism
- Neonatal Health
Background:
- Plasma selenium (Se) is crucial for infant development.
- Preterm infants may have altered Se status due to prematurity and nutrition.
- Understanding Se dynamics in infants is vital for optimizing growth and health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively evaluate plasma Se concentrations in term and preterm infants.
- To analyze the relationship between Se levels, gestational age, and nutrition.
- To inform recommendations for Se monitoring and supplementation in vulnerable infants.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study design involving term and preterm infants.
- Blood samples collected at specific ages (1, 4, 12 months corrected for preterm infants).
- Comparison of plasma Se levels across breast-fed term, formula-fed term, and formula-fed preterm infants.
Main Results:
- Preterm infants exhibited significantly lower plasma Se levels than term infants up to 6 months corrected age.
- Breast-fed term infants had higher Se levels than formula-fed infants until solid introduction.
- Plasma Se in preterm infants remained lower than term infants fed identical formula for the first 4 months.
Conclusions:
- Preterm infants demonstrate persistently low plasma selenium concentrations.
- Routine monitoring and selenium supplementation are recommended for preterm infants.
- Supplementation should ideally commence in-hospital before discharge to ensure adequate Se status.
Abstract:
The goal of the present study was to prospectively assess the plasma selenium (Se) concentrations of term and preterm infants during the first year of life in relation to gestational age and nutrition. Blood specimens were collected from orally formula-fed preterm infants (gestational age < 32 weeks, birth weight < 1500 g): 1.) in hospital and 2.) corrected for gestational age parallel to healthy term breast and formula-fed infants at the ages of 1, 4 and 12 months. All infants were fed according to a standardized nutritional concept, solids and follow-up formula were introduced at the age of 4 months. Plasma selenium in preterm infants in hospital was 11.7 (6.5-20.8) microg/l and 11.6 (8.8-16.7) microg/l at 4 weeks corrected for gestational age. At the age of 4 months plasma selenium was still significantly lower than in the other groups: Preterm infants: 17.1 (10.4-30.5) microg/l; formula-fed term infants: 31.3 (24.3-47.5) microg/l; breast-fed term infants: 45.6 (27.1-65.1) microg/l). The levels of breast-fed infants were significantly higher than those of both formula-fed groups up until the introduction of solids. Preterm infants had significantly low plasma selenium levels up until a postnatal age of at least 6 months. The levels were lower than those of term infants fed an identical unsupplemented infant formula during the first 4 months of life. These data support routine monitoring in hospital and selenium supplementation of preterm infants, preferably in hospital before discharge.