Higher concentration of selenium in placental tissues is associated with reduced risk for orofacial clefts

• Published in: Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) Scotland), 2019-10, Vol.38 (5), p.2442-2448
• Main Authors: Pi, Xin, Wei, Yihui, Li, Zhiwen, Jin, Lei, Liu, Jufen, Zhang, Yali, Wang, Linlin, Ren, Aiguo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Molybdenum; Nickel; Orofacial clefts; Selenium; Zinc
• ISSN: 0261-5614; 1532-1983
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2018.11.002

Growing evidence suggests that essential trace element imbalance during pregnancy may contribute to fetal malformations, but the role of essential trace elements in the occurrence of orofacial clefts (OFCs) is unknown. We aimed to examine the association between concentrations of zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), cobalt (Co), molybdenum (Mo), and nickel (Ni) in placental tissues and the risk for OFCs in offspring in a rural population in northern China with a high prevalence of OFCs. The case–control study subjects were 103 OFC infants and 206 non-malformed infants. The concentrations of selected trace elements in placental tissues were determined using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Sociodemographic information was collected from the mothers through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. The risk for OFCs in association with higher concentrations of the trace elements was estimated using the odds ratio (OR) with its 95% confidence interval (95% CI). The placental median concentrations of Se and Ni were significantly lower, but those of Mo were significantly higher in OFC cases than in controls (all P