SELENIUM STATUS OF PRETERM INFANTS - THE EFFECT OF POSTNATAL AGE AND METHOD OF FEEDING

Indicators of selenium (Se) status were measured in a longitudinal stu dy of 63 preterm and 46 term infants. Se levels in both groups were si milar in the first few days of life. Preterm infants fed parenteral nu trition (PN) for several weeks developed very low plasma Se levels (<1 0 mu g/l). In those receiving either breast milk or formula in conjunc tion with PN, plasma Se also declined over the first 6 weeks. In the b reastfed term infants plasma levels increased by 50%, but there was no increase in the term formula-fed group. In healthy preterm infants wh o received mainly breast milk, plasma Se concentrations remained const ant at newborn levels and were below those of breastfed term infants a t 6 weeks. Erythrocyte GSHPx activity did not reflect plasma Se or Se intake. In conclusion, the type of feeding, and hence Se intake, influ enced plasma Se concentration in preterm infants. Provision of enteral feeding in conjunction with PN was unable to prevent a decline in pla sma Se and at 6 weeks levels were well below those of the reference br eastfed term infants.