Selenium status in pregnancy: studies in amniotic fluid from normal pregnant women

Selenium concentrations were determined in amniotic fluid samples obtained from 111 healthy normal pregnant women (median age, 27.5 years) between 12 and 42 weeks of gestation using hydride generation technique coupled with atomic absorption spectroscopy. There was a gradual decrease in the amniotic fluid selenium concentration with the progress of pregnancy. The negative correlation between the gestational age and amniotic fluid selenium concentration was highly significant (p less than 0.001). The implications of these findings in normal pregnancy are discussed.