Comparison of maternal and umbilical cord blood selenium levels in preterm and term neonates

Background: Selenium is a micronutrient that plays an important role in immunological mechanisms and body's resistance to pathogens, and may drastically impact the outcome of pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to compare selenium level in maternal blood and neonatal umbilical cord between term and preterm neonates.

Methods: In this cross–sectional analytical study, the study population consisted of term and preterm neonates that were born at Imam Reza hospital, Kermanshah, and their mothers in 2013. 82 samples were selected, and selenium level in maternal blood and neonatal umbilical cord was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Data were analyzed by SPSS-21 software using independent t-test, U Mann-Whitney and Pearson correlation coefficient.

Results: Serum selenium levels in the umbilical cord blood of term and preterm neonates were 70.11±11.6 and 56.98±13.13 µg/L, respectively, that showed a statistically significant difference (P<0.001). Serum selenium levels in the maternal blood of term and preterm neonates were 92.77±12.87 and 81.29±15.89 µg/L, respectively, which indicated a significant difference (P<0.001). However, in both term and preterm infants, there was a significant correlation between serum selenium level of maternal blood and neonatal umbilical cord blood (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Serum selenium level in maternal blood and neonatal umbilical cord blood of preterm neonates was lower than that of term neonates. Moreover, there was a significantly direct correlation between serum selenium level of maternal blood and neonatal umbilical cord blood.