Prooxidant-antioxidant balance in pregnancy: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of selenium supplementation.
We assessed the impact of selenium, a trace element with antioxidant properties on a simple measure of oxidative stress in pregnant women.



A novel assay of prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) was applied in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of selenium supplementation in pregnancy. We measured the prooxidant burden and the antioxidant capacity simultaneously in one assay, thereby calculating a redox index. A total of 166 primigravid pregnant women in the first trimester of pregnancy, were randomized to receive 100 microg of selenium (n=83) or placebo (n=83) per day until delivery. PAB values and serum selenium concentrations were measured at baseline and at the end of study.



Pretreatment demographic data and biochemical indices including serum selenium concentrations did not differ significantly between the groups. The drop-out rates for the groups were 22/83 and 19/83 for the selenium and placebo groups, respectively. Supplementation with selenium was associated with a significant increase in mean serum selenium concentration (P<0.001) but without significant change in mean PAB value. In contrast, mean serum selenium concentration remained unchanged and mean PAB values increased significantly (P<0.05 in the control group).



Our findings suggest that selenium supplementation may reduce oxidative stress associated with pregnancy.
Tara
Fatemeh
F
Gynecology Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS), Mashhad, Iran.
Rayman
Margaret P
MP
Boskabadi
Hassan
H
Ghayour-Mobarhan
Majid
M
Sahebkar
Amirhossein
A
Alamdari
Daryoush H
DH
Razavi
Behjat S
BS
Tavallaie
Shima
S
Azimi-Nezhad
Mohsen
M
Shakeri
Mohammad T
MT
Oladi
Mohammadreza
M
Yazarlu
Omid
O
Ouladan
Shaida
S
Sangani
Maryam Teimoori
MT
Omran
Fatemeh Rezagholizadeh
FR
Ferns
Gordon
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016877:Oxidants / Q000097:blood; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D000975:Antioxidants; D016877:Oxidants; D014131:Trace Elements; D012643:Selenium