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Selenium in the neonate
1Department of Pediatrics, Pt. Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana. g_gathwala@sify.com
Insights
Selenium is crucial for infant health, acting as an antioxidant to protect against diseases caused by free radicals. Ensuring adequate selenium nutrition is vital for neonatal antioxidant defense and overall well-being.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Neonatal Medicine
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Selenium is an essential trace element vital for human health.
- It is a key component of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase.
- Oxygen free radicals contribute to several neonatal diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the critical role of selenium in neonatal health.
- To highlight selenium's importance in preventing diseases linked to oxidative stress in newborns.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on selenium and neonatal health.
- Analysis of selenium's role in antioxidant defense mechanisms.
- Examination of selenium's impact on specific neonatal conditions.
Main Results:
- Adequate selenium nutrition is essential for robust antioxidant defense in neonates.
- Selenium plays a significant role in mitigating risks associated with conditions like bronchopulmonary dysplasia and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.
- Maintaining optimal selenium levels supports overall neonatal health and disease prevention.
Conclusions:
- Selenium is indispensable for neonatal antioxidant defense.
- Proper selenium status is crucial for managing and preventing various neonatal diseases.
- Further research into selenium supplementation in neonates is warranted.
Abstract:
Selenium is a trace element of tremendous importance in human health. It is a constituent of the antioxidant enzyme. Glutathione peroxidase and therefore is vital to antioxidant defense. Several diseases of the neonate have been shown to be caused at least in part by oxygen free radicals. These include bronchopulmonary dysplasia retinopathy of prematurity necrotising enterocolitis patient ductus arteriosus and neuronal injury of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Good selenium nutrition is therefore of key importance to antioxidant defense in the neonate. The communique reviews the important role that selenium might play in neonatal health & disease.
