Selenium status of infants on nutritional support

Area of Science:

• Nutritional biochemistry
• Pediatric nutrition
• Clinical chemistry

Background:

• Infants receiving nutritional support require careful monitoring of micronutrient status.
• Parenteral nutrition (PN) bypasses normal digestive processes, potentially altering nutrient absorption and utilization.
• Selenium is an essential trace element vital for antioxidant defense and overall health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the selenium status of infants receiving nutritional support.
• To determine if parenteral nutrition meets the selenium requirements of infants.
• To assess the clinical implications of altered selenium levels during nutritional support.

Main Methods:

• Plasma selenium concentrations were measured in 5 infants before and during parenteral nutrition.
• Red blood cell-glutathione peroxidase activity was monitored.
• Selenium levels were reassessed after the reintroduction of enteral feeding.

Main Results:

• A significant decrease in plasma selenium concentrations was observed after 4 weeks of parenteral nutrition (0.8 +/- 0.5 micrograms/dl vs. normal 3.6 +/- 0.9 micrograms/dl).
• One infant showed a concurrent rise in transaminases, and 3 patients exhibited decreased glutathione peroxidase activity.
• Selenium levels normalized after reintroducing enteral nutrition, indicating inadequate selenium provision during parenteral nutrition.

Conclusions:

• Long-term parenteral nutrition may not adequately meet the selenium requirements of infants.
• Progressive selenium deficiency can develop in infants on parenteral nutrition.
• Physiological amounts of selenium should be provided to long-term parenteral nutrition patients to prevent deficiency.