Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Grand Forks, North Dakota » Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center » Dietary Prevention of Obesity-related Disease Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #288462
Title: Plasma and breastmilk selenium in HIV-infected Malawian mothers is positively associated with infant selenium status at 2 or 6 and 24 weeks post-partum but is not associated with supplementation

Author
item FLAX, V - University Of North Carolina
item BENTLEY, M - University Of North Carolina
item Combs, Gerald
item CHASELA, C - University Of North Carolina
item KAYIRA, D - University Of North Carolina
item TEGHA, G - University Of North Carolina
item DAZA, E - University Of North Carolina
item JAMIESON, D - Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) - United States
item VAN DER HORST, C - University Of North Carolina
item ADAIR, L - University Of North Carolina

Submitted to: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/27/2012
Publication Date: 4/9/2013
Citation: Flax, V.L., Bentley, M.E., Combs, G.F., Chasela, C.S., Kayira, D., Tegha, G., Daza, E.J., Jamieson, D.J., Van Der Horst, C.M., Adair, L.S. 2013. Plasma and breastmilk selenium in HIV-infected Malawian mothers is positively associated with infant selenium status at 2 or 6 and 24 weeks post-partum but is not associated with supplementation. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference. 27:845.16.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Selenium (Se) levels are typically low in HIV-infected individuals, but have been increased by supplementation in previous studies. In HIV-infected populations, the effect of Se supplementation on breastmilk Se and, consequently, plasma Se levels in exclusively breastfed infants is unknown. HIV-infected Malawian mothers in the Breastfeeding, Antiretrovirals, and Nutrition study were randomized to receive a daily nutritional supplement containing 1 RDA of Se from 0-24 wks post-partum or no supplement. In a sub-sample of 514 mothers and their uninfected infants, we used regression models to examine the effects of the supplement on maternal plasma and breastmilk Se and the association between the Se concentration in breastmilk and infant plasma at either 2 or 6 weeks and 24 weeks. Supplementation was not associated with maternal plasma or breastmilk Se at any time point. Mean maternal (81.1- 86.1 ng/mL) and infant (55.6- 61.0 ng/mL) plasma Se increased, while breastmilk (14.4- 9.8 ng/mL) levels declined from 2 or 6 to 24 wks. Higher breastmilk Se was associated with higher infant plasma Se at 2 or 6 and 24 weeks (p<0.001). Similar patterns of change in Se levels in breastmilk and maternal and infant plasma have been documented and are probably physiological. The lack of effect of Se supplementation may be related to the low dose (75 µg/d) compared to other trials.