Maternal Selenium Nutrition and Neonatal Immune System Development

Abstract

We evaluated the impact of dietary selenium intake on neonatal immune cell differentiation and function. A low selenium intake during pregnancy and lactation produced reductions in maternal plasma selenium (33%, p = 0.0001), milk selenium (36%, p = 0.001), and corresponding neonatal plasma selenium (47%, p = 0.008). Thymocytes from neonates receiving low-selenium milk showed an impaired activation in vitro (p = 0.001). The percentages of CD8 cytotoxic T cells (p = 0.03), CD2 T cells (p = 0.09), panB cells ( = 0.02), and natural killer cells (p = 0.07) were all decreased in neonates nursed by mothers fed a low-selenium diet. The results indicate that maternal selenium intake impacts neonatal selenium status which in turn influences the neonatal immune system development.

The Role of Environmental Factors in Modulating Immune Responses in Early Life

“…Full reviews on micronutrient malnutrition and immunity can be found elsewhere (114–116) and only select micronutrients (selenium, zinc, and vitamin A) known to modulate immunity are highlighted here. Limited maternal dietary selenium also restricts transmission to the neonate that has been reported to result in impaired in vitro activation of thymocytes, and decreased proportions of circulating adaptive immune cells in the neonate (117). Zinc deficiency has been associated with impaired growth and immune cell functions (118) and reprograming of the immune system from adaptive to more innate immune responses (119).…”

Effect of dietary selenite on development and intestinal absorption in offspring rats

“…Dietary supplementation with organic or inorganic Se, as selenomethionine (Se-Met) or selenite respectively, enhanced the growth rate and development of the offspring and it is essential for antioxidant protection and immune function development (Dylewski et al, 2002). Schweizer et al (2004) described that supplemented inorganic selenium can be transferred efficiently via mother's milk to the developing offspring and Anan et al (2009) found that Se-Met is a better nutritional source of Se for pups during lactation.…”

The Selenium Levels of Mothers and Their Neonates Using Hair, Breast Milk, Meconium, and Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood in Van Basin

“…Thus, human milk is fundamental for an infant's optimum Se status [13]. In mammals, maternal Se deficiency induces oxidative stress in the fetus, as measured by increased generation of lipid peroxides in the fetal liver [14], and also impairs the development of the neonatal immune system [15]. Consequently, the importance of Se in the nutrition of the human infant is gaining wide acceptance [13].…”