A Multicountry Analysis of Maternal Selenium Status in Pregnancy and Lactation and Infant Birth Outcomes: Findings from the Women First Maternal Preconception Study

Maternal selenium deficiency is hypothesized to contribute to risk of adverse outcomes including low birth weight and prematurity, possibly through its role as an antioxidant and/or in thyroid hormone function. The study assessed relationships between maternal selenium concentrations during pregnancy with offspring outcomes including birth measurements, low birth weight, prematurity and small for gestational age. Maternal selenium supplementation did not impact serum concentrations, suggesting that supplementation may not overcome the impact of low intake and the high demands of pregnancy and early lactation. Larger studies in high-risk regions are needed to further clarify the relationship between maternal selenium deficiency and infant outcomes.