Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 1998;78:F225-F226 ( May )
Enteral yeast-selenium supplementation in preterm infants
Gábor Bogye,a
Georg Alfthan,b
Tamás Machay,c
László Zubovicsd
a National Institute of Rheumatology and
Physiotherapy, Budapest, Hungary, b Nutrition
Laboratory, National Public Health Institute of Finland, Helsinki,
Finland, c 1st Department of Obstetrics and
Gynecology, Perinatal Intensive Centre, Semmelwies Medical School,
Budapest, Hungary, d Perinatal
Intensive Care, Schöpf-Mérei Ágost Hospital, Budapest, Hungary
Correspondence to: Dr Gábor
Bogye, 1027 Budapest, Frankel Leó u. 7., Hungary.
Accepted 26 November 1997
AIM
To study the bioavailability of selenium
enriched yeast in preterm infants living in a low selenium area (Hungary).
METHODSThirty six preterm infants were
randomly assigned to two groups at birth with respect to selenium
supplementation. In the supplemented group (n=18) infants received 4.8 mg of selenium enriched yeast containing 5 µg selenium daily.
RESULTSIn the supplemented group the serum
selenium concentration increased from 36.1(±12.8) µg/l to 43.5 (7.9) µg/l and in the non-supplemented group it decreased from 34.4 (20.4) µg/l to 26.1 (16.6) µg/l from birth in two weeks. No
complications or side effects as a result of supplementation were observed.
CONCLUSIONSSelenium enriched yeast is a
safe and an effective form of short term enteral selenium
supplementation for preterm infants.
Keywords:
selenium;
deficiency;
supplementation;
preterm
infant
© 1998 by Archives of Disease in Childhood
