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Updated: May 26, 2026
Biochemical Measurement of Neonatal Hypoxia
Published on: August 24, 2011
Determination of selenium in serum samples of preterm newborn infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia using a
Manizheh Mostafa-Gharehbaghi1, Parvin Mostafa-Gharabaghi, Fatemeh Ghanbari
1Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. gharehbaghimm@yahoo.com
Insights
Low selenium levels at one month after birth are linked to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants. This finding highlights selenium
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Pediatric Pulmonology
Background:
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a significant complication in premature infants.
- Selenium is an essential trace element with crucial antioxidant functions.
- Understanding factors influencing BPD development is vital for improving infant outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between serum selenium concentrations and the incidence of BPD in preterm newborns.
- To evaluate selenium levels at birth and one month post-birth in relation to BPD diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples were collected from 38 preterm infants (gestation ≤ 32 weeks) at birth and 30 days post-birth.
- Selenium concentration was measured using a validated atomic absorption spectrophotometry method.
- Statistical analysis compared selenium levels between infants with and without BPD.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in serum selenium at birth between BPD and non-BPD groups.
- Significantly lower serum selenium levels were observed at 30 days post-birth in infants diagnosed with BPD (p=0.02).
- Lower selenium concentrations at one month correlated with BPD in preterm infants.
Conclusions:
- Serum selenium levels at one month post-birth may serve as a potential biomarker for BPD risk in preterm infants.
- Adequate selenium status might be important for mitigating BPD development.
- Further research is warranted to explore selenium supplementation strategies for BPD prevention.
Abstract:
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), also known as chronic lung disease, is one of the most challenging complications in premature newborn infants. Selenium plays a role in antioxidant system by protecting cell membranes and neutralizing the deleterious effects of free radicals. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between selenium concentration and incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia using a validated analytical method. Umbilical cord blood and blood samples 30 days after the birth were collected from 38 preterm newborn infants with gestation age of 32 weeks or less, and the separated serums were kept at -70°C until analysis time. Selenium concentration of serum was determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The method was validated on the basis of standard validation techniques. The analytical method was linear in the range of 1 to 500 μg/L with the limit of detection of 0.4 μg/L. Samples were collected from 38 infants whose gestation age was 32 weeks or less. The blood samples were collected from the umbilical cord blood at birth in 19 cases. In 25 cases, blood samples were collected 1 month after birth. Of the 15 patients diagnosed with BPD, 10 were boys (p = 0.02). The mean serum selenium concentration was not different at birth between patients with and without BPD, but it was significantly lower at 30 days after birth in patients with BPD (38.5 ± 14.1vs. 45.4 ± 18.7 μg/L, p = 0.02). Preterm newborn infants with BPD had lower serum selenium concentrations 1 month after birth.
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