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Published on: June 13, 2021
Selenium status during pregnancy and child psychomotor development-Polish Mother and Child Cohort study
Kinga Polanska1, Anna Krol1, Wojciech Sobala1
1Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland.
Insights
Prenatal selenium (Se) levels positively impact child neurodevelopment, particularly motor and language skills. Higher first-trimester Se is linked to better psychomotor development in early childhood.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Limited research exists on selenium's impact during pregnancy on infant neurodevelopment.
- Understanding prenatal nutrient effects is crucial for child health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between prenatal selenium (Se) exposure and neurodevelopment in children.
- To evaluate the impact of maternal selenium status across different pregnancy stages on psychomotor functions.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study involving 410 mother-child pairs from the Polish Mother and Child Cohort.
- Maternal plasma selenium levels measured in each trimester, at delivery, and in cord blood.
- Child psychomotor development assessed at 1 and 2 years using Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development.
Main Results:
- Plasma selenium levels showed a significant decrease from the first trimester to delivery.
- First-trimester selenium levels positively correlated with motor development at 1 year (P=0.002) and language development at 2 years (P=0.03).
- A borderline significant positive association was found between first-trimester selenium and cognitive scores at 2 years (P=0.05).
Conclusions:
- Prenatal selenium status is associated with psychomotor development in early childhood.
- Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and explore underlying mechanisms.
- Highlights the potential importance of maternal selenium levels for optimal child neurodevelopment.
Background:
The studies on the impact of selenium (Se) levels in different pregnancy periods on child psychomotor functions are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of prenatal Se on child neurodevelopment.
Methods:
The study population consisted of 410 mother-child pairs from Polish Mother and Child Cohort. Se levels were measured in each trimester of pregnancy, at delivery, and in cord blood by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Psychomotor development was assessed in children at the age of 1 and 2 y using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development.
Results:
Plasma Se levels decreased through pregnancy (from 48.3 ± 10.6 µg/l in the first trimester to 38.4 ± 11.8 µg/l at delivery; P < 0.05). A statistically significant positive association between Se levels in the first trimester of pregnancy and motor development (β = 0.2, P = 0.002) at 1 y of age, and language development (β = 0.2, P = 0.03) at 2 y of age was observed. The positive effect of Se levels on cognitive score at 2 y of age was of borderline significance (β = 0.2, P = 0.05).
Conclusion:
Prenatal selenium status was associated with child psychomotor abilities within the first years of life. Further epidemiological and preclinical studies are needed to confirm the association and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of these effects.
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