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Premature infants often have low selenium levels, especially those treated for respiratory distress syndrome. Selenium supplementation in parenteral nutrition can prevent this deficiency, unlike vitamin E alone.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Nutritional Biochemistry
Background:
- Premature infants exhibit lower serum selenium concentrations compared to full-term infants and children.
- Selenium levels decline rapidly in infants treated for respiratory distress syndrome without supplementation.
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is associated with persistently low selenium levels in premature infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of selenium supplementation in preventing selenium deficiency in premature infants.
- To determine if vitamin E supplementation influences serum selenium concentrations in premature infants.
Main Methods:
- Monitoring serum selenium concentrations in premature infants.
- Administering vitamin E supplements to healthy premature infants.
- Providing selenium supplementation (3 microgram/kg) via parenteral fluids.
Main Results:
- Vitamin E supplementation did not alter serum selenium concentrations in healthy premature infants.
- Selenium supplementation via parenteral fluids successfully prevented the decline in serum selenium levels observed in unsupplemented infants.
- Premature infants, particularly those on oxygen therapy, are at risk for selenium deficiency.
Conclusions:
- Selenium supplementation in parenteral nutrition solutions is recommended for premature infants to prevent deficiency.
- Vitamin E alone is insufficient to prevent selenium deficiency and mitigate potential oxygen toxicity in premature infants.
Abstract:
Premature infants have a lower selenium concentration in serum than full-term infants and children. The selenium concentration goes down quickly in infants treated for respiratory distress syndrome without supplementation. One premature infant with bronchopulmonary dysplasia had persistently low concentrations of selenium. Vitamin E supplements did not affect the serum selenium concentration in healthy premature infants. Supplementation with 3 microgram/kg of selenium in parenteral fluids prevented the fall in the concentration seen in other infants not supplemented. Premature infants and especially those treated with oxygen may warrant selenium supplementation to the parenteral nutrition solution. Vitamin E supplements alone are apparently not sufficient to prevent selenium deficiency and potential oxygen toxicity.