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The Association Between Prenatal Maternal Selenium Concentration and Neurodevelopment in Early Childhood, Results

Suman Ranjitkar1, Ingrid Kvestad2, Ram K Chandyo3

  • 1Department of Psychosocial Science, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Pediatrics, Child Health Research Project, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal.

The Journal of Nutrition
|April 13, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Maternal selenium levels in Nepal were often low, but did not impact child neurodevelopment. This study found no link between selenium status during pregnancy and early childhood development outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Nutritional Science
  • Neurodevelopmental Biology
  • Maternal and Child Health

Background:

  • Selenium (Se) is a vital micronutrient for human health, particularly brain development.
  • Existing research suggests a potential link between maternal selenium levels and child neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • Understanding selenium status in pregnant populations is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess selenium status among pregnant women in Nepal.
  • To investigate the association between maternal plasma selenium concentration during early pregnancy and neurodevelopment in Nepalese children.
  • To provide data on selenium deficiency prevalence and its potential impact on child development in this region.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study involving 800 mother-infant dyads in Bhaktapur, Nepal.
  • Maternal plasma selenium concentration was measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
  • Child neurodevelopment was assessed at 6, 12, and 24 months using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd edition (Bayley-3).

Main Results:

  • The average maternal plasma selenium concentration was 74.8 μg/L, with 36.3% of participants exhibiting selenium deficiency (<71.1 μg/L).
  • No significant association was found between maternal selenium concentration and the overall Bayley-3 total z-score.
  • Maternal selenium levels showed no correlation with any specific Bayley-3 composite or subscale scores.

Conclusions:

  • A significant portion of pregnant Nepalese women in the study demonstrated selenium deficiency.
  • Despite the high prevalence of selenium deficiency, maternal selenium concentration was not associated with early childhood neurodevelopment in this cohort.
  • Further research may be needed to explore other factors influencing neurodevelopment in selenium-deficient populations.
Abstract

Keywords:
BayleyNepalearly childhoodmaternal seleniumneurodevelopment

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