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. 2024 Jul 9;13(4):e240007.
doi: 10.1530/ETJ-24-0007. Print 2024 Aug 1.

Selenium levels and their association with thyroid autoimmunity and severe preeclampsia in pregnancy: Insights from a prospective ideal breast milk cohort study

Chae Won Chung  1   2 , Kyungsik Kim  3   4 , Sue K Park  3   4   5 , Dal Lae Ju  6 , Young Joo Park  1   7 , Choong Ho Shin  8 , Jong Kwan Jun  9 , June-Key Chung  10 , Yoon Ju Song  11 , Young Ah Lee  8 , Gi Jeong Cheon  4   7   10 , Sun Wook Cho  1
Affiliations

Selenium levels and their association with thyroid autoimmunity and severe preeclampsia in pregnancy: Insights from a prospective ideal breast milk cohort study

Chae Won Chung et al. Eur Thyroid J. .

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess selenium status in South Korean pregnant women and its impact on maternal thyroid function and pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: 'Ideal Breast Milk (IBM) Cohort Study' included 367 pregnant women out of 442 participants and categorized into three groups based on plasma selenium levels: deficient (< 70 μg/L), suboptimal (70-99 μg/L), and optimal (≥ 100 μg/L). During the second or third trimester, various blood parameters, including selenium, thyroid-stimulating hormone, free T4, free T3, and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody levels, were measured. Thyroid parenchymal echogenicity was assessed as another surrogate marker for thyroid autoimmunity using ultrasonography.

Results: The median plasma selenium was 98.8 (range: 46.7-206.4) μg/L, and 30 individuals (8%) were categorized as deficient, while 164 (45%) were classified in the suboptimal group. Selenium deficiency was associated with markers of autoimmune thyroiditis, including positive anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody results (13.3 (deficient) vs 4.6 (optimal) %, P = 0.031) and thyroid parenchymal heterogeneity on ultrasound (33.3 (deficient) vs 14.6 (suboptimal) vs 17.3 (optimal) %, P = 0.042), independently of gestational age. The incidence of severe preeclampsia was higher in the group not taking selenium supplements, particularly among those with twin pregnancies, compared to the group taking selenium supplements (0 (selenium supplement) vs 9.0 (no supplement) %, P = 0.015).

Conclusion: Pregnant women experience mild selenium deficiency, which can lead to significant health issues including maternal thyroid autoimmunity and obstetrical complications during pregnancy. Guidelines for appropriate selenium intake according to the stage of pregnancy and the number of fetuses are needed.

Keywords: preeclampsia; selenium deficiency; selenium supplement; suboptimal; thyroid autoantibody; thyroid autoimmunity; twin.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the study reported.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of study participants.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Plasma selenium levels in late pregnancy. (A) All participants, (B) singleton vs twin pregnancy, (C) sampling times, 2nd vs 3rd trimester of pregnancy, and (D) with (Se+) vs without (Se−) selenium supplement.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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