[Serum selenium levels in neonates].
BACKGROUND
Despite their increasing importance in children's nutrition, studies on selenium levels in neonates in Spain are scarce and often contradictory.


OBJECTIVE
To establish the standard serum levels of selenium in healthy full term neonates in our area and to contribute knowledge of the perinatal factors that influence these levels.


METHODS
We determined selenium levels in serum by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 247 neonates: 70 healthy full term neonates, 60 sick full term neonates, 18 neonates with intrauterine growth retardation (> 37 weeks; birthweight < 2500 g), 44 healthy preterm neonates and 55 sick preterm neonates.


RESULTS
Healthy full term newborns showed higher serum selenium levels than healthy preterm neonates (35.11 6.94 g/l, range: 18.4-48 g/l versus 28.65 5.95 g/l, range: 15-44.4 g/l, p < 0.001). In the group with intrauterine growth retardation, serum selenium levels were higher than in the healthy preterm group (30.80 6.97 g/l, range: 20-45.6 g/l versus 28.65 5.95 g /L, range: 15-44.4 g/l) but lower than in the full term and normal birthweight group (idem versus 35.11 6.94 g/l, range 18.4-48 g/l). Likewise, the low birthweight group (< 2500 g) showed lower mean serum selenium levels than the normal birthweight group (27.98 6.75 g/l, range 15-48 g/l versus 33.09 7.52 g/l, range 14.4-48 g/l; p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Prematurity and low birthweight are the best predictors for risk of neonatal hyposeleniemia.
Guirado Giménez
F
F
Servicios de Pediatría. Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet. Zaragoza. España. ferguirado@yahoo.es
Pérez Beriain
R M
RM
Rebage Moisés
V
V
García de Jalón Comet
A
A
Olivares López
J L
JL
Baldellou Vázquez
A
A
D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic / Q000295:instrumentation
D012643:Selenium