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Manganese and selenium concentrations in umbilical cord serum and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in
Amanda Ode1, Lars Rylander1, Peik Gustafsson2
1Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, SE-22185 Lund, Sweden.
Insights
Fetal exposure to manganese showed no link to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, higher fetal selenium levels were unexpectedly associated with increased ADHD risk in children, warranting further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Limited evidence exists on fetal manganese and selenium exposure's impact on neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder with complex etiology.
- Investigating prenatal nutrient exposure is crucial for understanding ADHD development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between fetal exposure to manganese and selenium and the risk of childhood ADHD diagnosis.
- To determine if cord serum concentrations of manganese and selenium are associated with ADHD.
- To explore potential interactions between manganese and selenium in relation to ADHD.
Main Methods:
- Case-control study involving children diagnosed with ADHD (n=166) and matched controls (n=166) born between 1978-2000 in Sweden.
- Manganese and selenium levels were measured in umbilical cord serum.
- Statistical analyses were performed to assess associations between nutrient concentrations and ADHD diagnosis.
Main Results:
- No significant association was found between umbilical cord serum manganese concentrations and ADHD.
- Children with selenium concentrations above the 90th percentile had 2.5 times higher odds of ADHD compared to those in the 10th-90th percentile range.
- No significant interaction was observed between manganese and selenium exposure.
Conclusions:
- Fetal manganese exposure does not appear to be associated with ADHD risk.
- Elevated fetal selenium exposure showed an unexpected association with increased ADHD diagnosis, requiring cautious interpretation and further research.
- This study highlights the need for more research into the role of specific trace elements during prenatal development.
Abstract:
Existing evidence on the effects of manganese and selenium during fetal life on neurodevelopmental disorders is inadequate. This study aims to investigate the hypothesized relationship between fetal exposure to manganese and selenium and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis in childhood. Children born between 1978 and 2000 with ADHD (n=166) were identified at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Malmö, Sweden. Controls from the same region (n=166) were selected from the Medical Birth Register and were matched for year of birth and maternal country of birth. Manganese and selenium were measured in umbilical cord serum. The median cord serum concentrations of manganese were 4.3μg/L in the cases and 4.1μg/L in the controls. The corresponding concentrations of selenium were 47 and 48μg/L. When the exposures were analyzed as continuous variables no associations between cord manganese or selenium concentration and ADHD were observed. However, children with selenium concentrations above the 90th percentile had 2.5 times higher odds (95% confidence interval 1.3-5.1) of having ADHD compared to those with concentrations between the 10th and 90th percentiles. There was no significant interaction between manganese and selenium exposure (p=0.08). This study showed no association between manganese concentrations in umbilical cord serum and ADHD. The association between ADHD diagnoses in children with relatively high cord selenium was unexpected and should be interpreted with caution.
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