Plasma selenium in preterm and term infants during the first 12 months of life

The goal of the present study was to prospectively assess the plasma seleni um (Se) concentrations of term and preterm infants during the first year of life in relation to gestational age and nutrition. Blood specimens were collected from orally formula-fed preterm infants (ges tational age < 32 weeks, birth weight < 1500 g): 1.) in hospital and 2.) co rrected for gestational age parallel to healthy term breast and formula-fed infants at the ages of 1, 4 and 12 months. All infants were fed according to a standardized nutritional concept, solids and follow-up formula were in troduced at the age of 4 months. Plasma selenium in preterm infants in hospital was 11.7 (6.5-20.8) mug/l an d 11.6 (8.8-16.7) mug/l at 4 weeks corrected for gestational age. At the ag e of 4 months plasma selenium was still significantly lower than in the oth er groups: Preterm infants: 17.1 (10.4-30.5) mug/l; formula-fed term infant s. 31.3 (24.3-47.5) mug/l; breast-fed term infants. 45.6 (27.1-65.1) mug/l) . The levels of breast-fed infants were significantly higher than those of both formula-fed groups up until the introduction of solids. Preterm infants had significantly low plasma selenium levels up until a pos tnatal age of at least 6 months. The levels were lower than those of term i nfants fed an identical unsupplemented infant formula during the first 4 mo nths of life. These data support routine monitoring in hospital and seleniu m supplementation of preterm infants, preferably in hospital before dischar ge.