Selenium deficiency and miscarriage: a possible link?

Abstract

Objective To investigate a possible relationship between a deficiency in serum selenium concentration and first trimester miscarriage. Design An observational study. Setting A teaching hospital in South Wales. Participants and methods Serum selenium, albumin and total protein concentration were measured in 40 women admitted with first trimester nonrecurrent miscarriage. The results were compared with an equal number of age‐matched nonpregnant healthy volunteers, and also from 40 pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic for booking in the first trimester. Results A reduction in serum selenium normally occurs in the first trimester of pregnancies that progress to term. However, a further statistically highly significant decrease in serum selenium was observed in those women who miscarried. Conclusion Further studies are required to assess the potential benefits of selenium supplements.

Dual targeting of TNF-αand free radical toxic stress as a promising strategy to manage experimental polycystic ovary

“…More specifically selenium is an essential trace element, which can protect cells from OS (Abdollahi et al, 2001;Brozmanová et al, 2010;Ogunro et al, 2006;Steinbrenner & Sies, 2009) by modulating the expression of selenoprotein genes and anti-inflammatory mechanisms (Duntas, 2009). On the contrary, several studies have reported about the association of selenium deficiency and increased prevalence of ovarian cysts (Harrison et al, 1984), infertility (Paszkowski et al, 1995), and idiopathic miscarriage (Barrington et al, 1996). Supporting that, the beneficial effect of a selenium-based multi-herbal medicine in the letrozole-induced experimental PCO rats has been found to be mediated through the inhibition of synthesis or release of inflammatory mediators, reduction of OS, and maintaining the steroid status (Rezvanfar et al, 2012b).…”

The importance of selenium to human health

“…27 Investigating whether this could also be relevant to humans, Barrington found significantly lower serum Se in women who suffered either first-trimester or recurrent miscarriages. 28,29 He suggests that early pregnancy loss may be linked to reduced antioxidant protection of biological membranes and DNA by relatively low levels of the Se-dependent GPx. A subsequent study found lower Se levels in non-pregnant women suffering recurrent miscarriage than in controls, but the difference did not reach significance.…”

Blood selenium and glutathione peroxidases in miscarriage

“…Iwanier and Zachara 31 supplemented a group of sub-fertile men with selenium and have shown that the selenium levels and glutathione-Px activities in their blood increased but the quality of the spermatozoal characteristics did not change. Barrington et al 8 showed a signi®cantly higher risk of ®rst trimester non-recurrent miscarriages in SELENIUM AND GLUTATHIONE PEROXIDASES IN MISCARRIAGE 245 * Statistical signi®cances compared with the control group: (a) P , 0.001; (b) P , 0.0001, and with the group of aborted women: (c) P , 0.01; (d) P , 0.001 and (e) P , 0.0001. women with low serum selenium concentrations. In their study the mean selenium values (54.7^16.7 ng/mL) and the number of patients (n 40) were exactly the same as in our study.…”