Abstract
Properly working antioxidant defence systems are important for fetal development. One of the nutrients with antioxidant activity is selenium. Increased maternal selenium intake has been associated with reduced risk for being small for gestational age and preterm delivery. Based on the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study and the Medical Birth Registry of Norway, we investigated the association of maternal selenium intake from food and dietary supplements during the first half of pregnancy (n = 71,728 women) and selenium status in mid-pregnancy (n = 2628 women) with neonatal health, measured as two composite variables (neonatal morbidity/mortality and neonatal intervention). Low maternal dietary selenium intake (<30 µg/day) was associated with increased risk for neonatal morbidity/mortality (adjusted odds ratio (adjOR) 1.36, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.08-1.69) and neonatal intervention (adjOR 1.16, 95% CI 1.01-1.34). Using continuous variables, there were no associations between maternal selenium intake (from diet or supplements) or whole-blood selenium concentration and neonatal outcome in the adjusted models. Our findings suggest that sufficient maternal dietary selenium intake is associated with neonatal outcome. Adhering to the dietary recommendations may help ensure an adequate supply of selenium for a healthy pregnancy and optimal fetal development.