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Variability of plasma/serum and erythrocyte selenium in the first year of life: a systematic review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 April 2025

Cláudia Bezerra de Almeida Open the ORCID record for Cláudia Bezerra de Almeida [Opens in a new window] ,
Taís T. Silveira Open the ORCID record for Taís T. Silveira [Opens in a new window] ,
Heitor P. Leite Open the ORCID record for Heitor P. Leite [Opens in a new window] ,
Tulio Konstantyner Open the ORCID record for Tulio Konstantyner [Opens in a new window]  and
Yara M. F. Moreno Open the ORCID record for Yara M. F. Moreno [Opens in a new window]
Cláudia Bezerra de Almeida
Affiliation:
Discipline of Pediatric Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Taís T. Silveira
Affiliation:
Department of Nutrition, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
Heitor P. Leite*
Affiliation:
Discipline of Pediatric Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Tulio Konstantyner
Affiliation:
Discipline of Pediatric Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Yara M. F. Moreno
Affiliation:
Department of Nutrition, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
*
Corresponding author: Heitor P. Leite; Email heitorpons@gmail.com
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Abstract

Se is particularly necessary in infants because of their rapid physical growth period in addition to being indispensable for neurodevelopment. Severe deficiency can lead to cardiomyopathy, hypothyroidism and faltering growth. However, Se can be toxic at high doses. In the paediatric age group, plasma/serum and erythrocyte Se levels seem to increase with age, except in the first year of life. Understanding the variability in Se status during this period can help to identify infants at risk of deficiency and develop strategies for controlling and preventing its consequences. This review aimed to identify the extent and characteristics of the variability of Se status during the first year of life. A search was conducted across five databases to find articles published until 30 July 2024, with no limitations on the language or date of publication. Articles were screened, data were extracted independently by two reviewers, and any disagreement was resolved by a third reviewer. A total of 22 studies comprising 1288 participants were included in this review, 21 of which assessed plasma/serum Se and 12 assessed erythrocyte Se. In the first 4 months of age, serum/plasma Se decreased, remained stable or increased depending on feeding, with an increase in supplemented formula-fed infants and breastfed infants of supplemented mothers. Erythrocyte Se levels showed a declining trend, except in infants fed supplemented formula or breastfed by supplemented mothers. Variability of serum/plasma and erythrocyte Se levels in the first year was associated with maternal Se intake/supplementation and the Se content of the infant’s diet.

Keywords

Plasma seleniumErythrocyte seleniumInfantInfant feedingDietary supplementations

Information

Type
Systematic Review
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 133 , Issue 9 , 14 May 2025 , pp. 1211 - 1223
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society

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