more pregnancy stuff/selenium

[Guest guest]

This was on , today:

 

Low Selenium Linked to Pregnancy Complication

41 minutes ago Add Health - Reuters to My

 

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Some pregnant women are prone to develop

a condition called pre-eclampsia - high blood pressure, kidney

impairment and reduced blood flow to the placenta that can complicate

the pregnancy. The cause is not clear, but now European researchers

have found that women with low levels of the mineral selenium are

four times more likely to have pre-eclampsia than women with higher

levels.

 

It's thought that one cause of pre-eclampsia is oxidants that arise

from a poorly functioning placenta. Since selenium is an antioxidant,

low levels of this trace element could potentially increase the risk

of pre-eclampsia.

 

To investigate, Dr. Margaret P. Rayman, from the University of Surrey

in Guildford, UK, and colleagues measured levels of selenium in

toenail clippings from 53 pre-eclamptic patients and in 53 matched

pregnant women. Selenium accumulates in nails, which therefore

provide a good record of levels over time.

 

As reported in the November issue of the American Journal of

Obstetrics and Gynecology (news - web sites), average selenium levels

were significantly lower in the patient group than in controls.

 

Moreover, among the pre-eclamptic women, the lower the selenium level

the more likely a woman was to deliver prematurely.

 

" Given the serious nature of preeclampsia and the potentially adverse

consequences of premature delivery and the associated low birth

weight, our results may have important public health implications, "

the researchers conclude.

 

They note that selenium intake has dropped both in the UK and in a

number of other European countries over the last 20 to 25 years.

 

Just a small increase in selenium levels could confer dramatic

benefits, Rayman's team says, adding that they plan to conduct a

randomized trial of selenium supplementation during pregnancy.

 

 

SOURCE: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, November 2003

 

More interesting info on sources of selenium at:

http://www.nutriherb.net/selenium.html

[Guest guest]

Hmmm I've known this about goats for a long time... didn't know it about humans....lol

Suzihales wrote:

This was on , today: Low Selenium Linked to Pregnancy Complication 41 minutes ago Add Health - Reuters to My NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Some pregnant women are prone to develop a condition called pre-eclampsia - high blood pressure, kidney impairment and reduced blood flow to the placenta that can complicate the pregnancy. The cause is not clear, but now European researchers have found that women with low levels of the mineral selenium are four times more likely to have pre-eclampsia than women with higher levels. It's thought that one cause of pre-eclampsia is oxidants that arise from a poorly functioning placenta. Since selenium is an antioxidant, low levels of this trace element could potentially increase the risk of pre-eclampsia. To investigate, Dr. Margaret P. Rayman, from the University of

Surrey in Guildford, UK, and colleagues measured levels of selenium in toenail clippings from 53 pre-eclamptic patients and in 53 matched pregnant women. Selenium accumulates in nails, which therefore provide a good record of levels over time. As reported in the November issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (news - web sites), average selenium levels were significantly lower in the patient group than in controls. Moreover, among the pre-eclamptic women, the lower the selenium level the more likely a woman was to deliver prematurely. "Given the serious nature of preeclampsia and the potentially adverse consequences of premature delivery and the associated low birth weight, our results may have important public health implications," the researchers conclude. They note that selenium intake has dropped both in the UK and in a number of other European countries over the last 20 to 25 years.

Just a small increase in selenium levels could confer dramatic benefits, Rayman's team says, adding that they plan to conduct a randomized trial of selenium supplementation during pregnancy. SOURCE: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, November 2003 More interesting info on sources of selenium at: http://www.nutriherb.net/selenium.htmlFederal Law requires that we warn you of the following: 1. Natural methods can sometimes backfire. 2. If you are pregnant, consult your physician before using any natural remedy. 3. The Constitution guarantees you the right to be your own physician and toprescribe for your own health. We are not medical doctors although MDs are welcome to post here as long as they behave themselves. Any opinions put forth by the list members are exactly that, and any person following the advice of anyone posting here does so at their own risk. It is up

to you to educate yourself. By accepting advice or products from list members, you are agreeing to be fully responsible for your own health, and hold the List Owner and members free of any liability. Dr. Ian ShillingtonDoctor of NaturopathyDr.IanShillington