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Prooxidant-antioxidant balance in pregnancy: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of selenium
Fatemeh Tara1, Margaret P Rayman, Hassan Boskabadi
1Gynecology Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS), Mashhad, Iran.
Objective:
We assessed the impact of selenium, a trace element with antioxidant properties on a simple measure of oxidative stress in pregnant women.
Study Design:
A novel assay of prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) was applied in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of selenium supplementation in pregnancy. We measured the prooxidant burden and the antioxidant capacity simultaneously in one assay, thereby calculating a redox index. A total of 166 primigravid pregnant women in the first trimester of pregnancy, were randomized to receive 100 microg of selenium (n=83) or placebo (n=83) per day until delivery. PAB values and serum selenium concentrations were measured at baseline and at the end of study.
Results:
Pretreatment demographic data and biochemical indices including serum selenium concentrations did not differ significantly between the groups. The drop-out rates for the groups were 22/83 and 19/83 for the selenium and placebo groups, respectively. Supplementation with selenium was associated with a significant increase in mean serum selenium concentration (P<0.001) but without significant change in mean PAB value. In contrast, mean serum selenium concentration remained unchanged and mean PAB values increased significantly (P<0.05 in the control group).
Conclusion:
Our findings suggest that selenium supplementation may reduce oxidative stress associated with pregnancy.
