Selenium status in term infants fed human milk or infant formula with or without added selenium

Abstract

Selenium (Se) is an essential element for human nutrition. To date, infant formulas manufactured in the United States are not fortified with Se, but provide Se as an intrinsic part of the ingredients. Two studies were conducted to assess the plasma and RBC levels of Se and glutathione peroxidase activity (GSH-Px) in term infants. In Study 1, infants were fed either human milk, 0.29 μmol Se/L (23 μg Se/L), or one of two whey-predominant formulas containing only intrinsic Se, 0.16 μmol Se/L (13 μg Se/L), or intrinsic Se plus sodium selenite, with a total of 0.43 μmol Se/L (34 μg Se/L), from birth to 2 months of age. In Study 2, infants were fed either human milk, 0.32 μmol Se/L (25 μg Se/L), or one of two soy-based formulas containing only intrinsic Se, 0.19 μmol Se/L (15 μg Se/L), or intrinsic Se plus sodium selenite, with a total of 0.24 μmol Se/L (19 μg Se/L), from birth to 6 months of age. The results of the two studies showed that in infants with adequate selenium status at birth, wheypredominant formulas with or without added Se containing at least 0.16 μmol Se/L (13 μg Se/L) and soy-based formulas with or without added Se containing at least 0.19 μmol Se/L (15 μg Se/L) maintained Se status comparable to that observed in human milk fed infants.