A healthy pregnancy. Selenium is an essential trace element needed to support a healthy pregnancy. However, to date, studies of the mother’s selenium status and the child’s growth and development are scarce. Data from the Odense Child Cohort study in Denmark give researchers an opportunity to investigate the possible effects of the mother’s low selenium intake and low selenium status on the child’s neuro-development [Demircan 2023; Demircan 2024].
Maternal Selenium Status and Offspring Risk of ASD and ADHD
A 2024 investigation conducted by Demircan et al has shown that there was an inverse relationship between 1) the mother’s selenium status during pregnancy and 2) the likelihood of the child’s developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The higher the maternal selenium level at 28 weeks of pregnancy, the lower the risk of developing ADHD or ASD by age five years. The researchers suggested that selenium supplementation could overcome the developing selenium deficiency in pregnancy and could decrease the risk of the children’s developing ASD or ADHD [Demircan 2024].
The researchers assessed the ADHD-related and ASD-related traits by using the Child Behaviour Checklist. At the child’s age of five years, the parents answered the Checklist questionnaire. Their answer quantify the behavioral and emotional symptoms and social functioning of their children between 1.5 and 5 years. The checklist contains questions relevant to the behaviors
and emotional states of this age group [Demircan 2024].
Demircan et al investigated 719 mother-child pairs with available maternal selenium status measured in early third trimester and with offspring Child Behaviour Checklist assessments carried out at five years of age. They found that, at five years of age, 155 of 719 children (21.6%) had ASD traits
and that 59 of 719 (8.2 %) children had ADHD traits [Demircan 2024].
Note, below, that the relationship between incremental changes in the mother’s selenium status and the risk of developing ADHD and ASD is seen in the range of maternal serum selenium status from 40 mcg/L to 100 mcg/L [Demircan 2024]. These maternal serum selenium concentrations range from a deficient level to a sub-optimal level. Thus, it makes sense that there should be gradually reduced risk of ADHD and ASD associated with higher maternal serum selenium concentrations.
ADHD
For each 10 microgram/L increase in maternal total selenium status, there was a 24% risk reduction for the development of ADHD in the child.
ASD
For each 10 microgram/L increase in maternal total selenium status, there was a 15% reduced risk of the child’s developing autism spectrum disorder.
Information about The Odense Child Cohort
Studies based on data from The Odense Childhood Cohort provide new information about the impact of the environment on child health and development. Researchers analyze data from 2500 families that have actively participated and contributed data. As controls, the researchers have compiled local registry data from non-participating families. [Kyhl 2015].
Conclusion: Mother’s Selenium Status is Important to child’s growth and development
Data from the Odense Child Cohort in Denmark show clearly a link between low maternal serum selenium status and the risk of ASD or ADHD in the offspring.
The researchers suggest that selenium supplementation of women planning a pregnancy may reduce the risk of offspring with ASD or ADHD.
Sources
Alexander J, Olsen AK. Selenium – a scoping review for Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023. Food Nutr Res. 2023 Dec 28;67.
Demircan K, Chillon TS, Jensen RC, Jensen TK, Sun Q, Bonnema SJ, Glintborg D, Bilenberg N, Andersen MS, Schomburg L. Maternal selenium deficiency during pregnancy in association with autism and ADHD traits in children: The Odense Child Cohort. Free Radic Biol Med. 2024 May 3;220:324-332.
Demircan K, Jensen RC, Chillon TS, Jensen TK, Sun Q, Bonnema SJ, Hackler J, Korevaar TIM, Glintborg D, Schomburg L, Andersen MS. Serum selenium, selenoprotein P, and glutathione peroxidase 3 during early and late pregnancy in association with gestational diabetes mellitus: Prospective Odense Child Cohort. Am J Clin Nutr. 2023 Dec;118(6):1224-1234.
Kyhl HB, Jensen TK, Barington T, Buhl S, Norberg LA, Jørgensen JS, Jensen DF, Christensen HT, Lamont RF, Husby S. The Odense Child Cohort: aims, design, and cohort profile. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2015 May;29(3):250-8.
Larsen EH, Hansen M, Paulin H, Moesgaard S, Reid M, Rayman M. Speciation and bioavailability of selenium in yeast-based intervention agents used in cancer chemoprevention studies. J AOAC Int. 2004 Jan-Feb;87(1):225-32.
The information presented in this review article is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used as such.