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Maternal selenium status in Slovenia and its impact on the selenium concentration of umbilical cord serum and colostrum

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 54, pages 522–524 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess serum selenium (Se) level of Slovenian mothers at birth and to elucidate its impact on the Se content of umbilical cord serum of their newborns and of that of colostrum.

Subjects and methods: In sera of 20 Slovenian mothers at delivery and in the corresponding umbilical cord sera of their newborns Se concentrations were determined by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-AAS). In addition Se levels in 10 healthy female blood donors were determined. Colostrum samples of 18 mothers collected on the second and third day post partum were also investigated for their Se content.

Results: Serum Se concentrations of mothers showed to be 62±15 μg/l. Umbilical cord sera had 34±7 μg/l, which amounts to 55% of the maternal content. Concentrations of Se in colostrum ranged from 17 to 48 μg/l with a mean of 29±10 μg/l. In the sera of female blood donors the mean was 66±15 μg/l. A significant correlation (P<0.002) between the Se content of maternal and umbilical sera could be established. No significant correlation was found between maternal serum Se concentration and that of colostrum.

Conclusions: Our data show that dietary Se intake for pregnant women in Slovenia is borderline.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2000) 54, 522–524

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics, Maribor Teaching Hospital, Maribor, Slovenia

    D Mičetić-Turk & M Krachler

  2. Department of Paediatrics, Karl Franzens University, Graz, Austria

    E Rossipal

  3. Institute for Analytical Chemistry, Karl Franzens University, Graz, Austria

    F Li

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  1. D Mičetić-Turk
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  2. E Rossipal
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  3. M Krachler
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  4. F Li
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Mičetić-Turk, D., Rossipal, E., Krachler, M. et al. Maternal selenium status in Slovenia and its impact on the selenium concentration of umbilical cord serum and colostrum. Eur J Clin Nutr 54, 522–524 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601050

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601050

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