SELENIUM IN GERMAN INFANTS FED BREAST-MILK OR DIFFERENT FORMULAS

At birth and at 4 months of age, selenium (Se) values of 129 term infa nts on three different diets were determined: 50 infants were breast f ed (HM), 44 received formula based on cow's milk (F) and 35 were fed ' 'hypoallergenic formula'' (PHF) (partially hydrolysed whey protein). T he Se status of a group of twins (n = 12) fed ''hypoallergenic formula '' was compared with the respective group of singletons. All infants h ad low plasma Se values during early infancy. The plasma Se of breast- fed infants remained stable (plasma Se 43 +/- 8 ng/ml at birth and at 4 months), whereas plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) decreased (b irth: 107 +/- 29 U/l; 4 months: 62 +/- 11 U/l). The formula-fed infant s showed a reduction in plasma Se levels from birth to 4 months (38 +/ - 10 ng/ml and 29 +/- 9 ng/ml, respectively). The decrease was even mo re pronounced in infants fed the ''hypoallergenic formula''. This grou p presented the lowest Se values (plasma Se 39 +/- 9 ng/ml at birth; 2 0 +/- 6 ng/ml at 4 months). Renal excretion of Se was found to be lowe r in the formula-fed infants (F and PHF) compared with the HM group. T here was a significant correlation between plasma and urinary Se (r = 0.62, p = 0.0001). Urinary Se (mu g Se/g creatinine) appeared to be a good indicator of Se intake. Measurements of urine Se might be used as a screening method for the estimation of the Se supply. Weight and le ngth increases in all infants were within the normal range. There were no differences between the different feeding groups.