Plasma selenium levels in pregnant women with preeclampsia

Objective: In this study we aimed to compare selenium (Se) levels in preeclamptic women to healthy pregnant women. Methods: The study included 84 pregnant women: 39 women with preeclampsia (Group 1), and 45 maternal age, gestational age, and body mass index (BMI) matched healthy pregnant women (Group 2). The maternal levels of plasma Se were analyzed in flame photometer of atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: Plasma Se levels in preeclamptic group were significantly lower than those in the healthy control group (p<0.05). There was no significant correlation between Se levels and BMI, gestational week at sampling, birth weight, triglycerides, cholesterol, the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures in preeclamptic and healthy pregnant women (p>0.05). Conclusion: Our results show that there are decreased levels of Se in plasma of preeclamptic subjects and this may indicate that Se could play a role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. However, further experiments are needed to clarify this role.