Impact of neonatal sepsis on serum selenium levels: Evidence of decreased selenium in sepsis-affected neonates

Abstract

Introduction: Essential trace elements and micronutrients are critical in eliciting an effective immune response to combat sepsis, with selenium being particularly noteworthy. The objective of this investigation is to analyze and the levels of serum selenium in neonates within sepsis and control groups.

Methodology: In 2023, a case-control study was carried out involving 66 hospitalized infants - 33 diagnosed with sepsis forming the case group and 33 free from sepsis constituting the control group - along with their mothers, at Children's and Shariati Hospitals in Bandar Abbas. The serum selenium concentrations (expressed in micrograms per deciliter) were quantified utilizing atomic absorption spectrometry. Subsequently, the data were processed and analyzed using IBM SPSS statistical software, version 22.

Results: The average serum selenium level in neonates with sepsis (42.06 ± 20.40 µg/dL) was notably lower compared to the control group (55.61 ± 20.33 µg/dL), a difference that was statistically significant (p-value = 0.009). The levels of serum selenium were comparable between neonates and mothers across both study groups.

Conclusion: The findings of this research indicate that selenium levels in the sepsis group were reduced compared to the control group, despite similar selenium levels in the mothers and neonates in both groups, suggesting that sepsis could be associated with a decrease in selenium levels.

Keywords: Neonatal sepsis; fever; selenium; sepsis; systemic inflammatory response syndrome.

Figure 1.

Scatter plot of neonates serum selenium level in sepsis and control group. Table 4 provides a comparison of serum selenium levels between neonates and their mothers in both sepsis and control groups. In the sepsis group, neonates have a mean serum selenium level of 42.06 µg/dL, while mothers show a slightly higher level of 45.39 µg/dL, with a p-value of 0.973 indicating no significant difference between the two. In the control group, neonates exhibit a mean level of 55.61 µg/dL, compared to mothers who have a mean level of 52.28 µg/dL, with a corresponding p-value of 0.207, again suggesting no significant difference between neonates and mothers in serum selenium levels in this group. This concise comparison in Table 4 highlights the similarities in selenium levels across both groups, irrespective of the sepsis condition.