Association between serum selenium concentrations and learning disability in a nationally representative sample of U.S. children

• Published in: Nutritional neuroscience 2022-07, Vol.25 (7), p.1558-1564
• Main Authors: Liu, Buyun, Xu, Guifeng, Yang, Wenhan, Strathearn, Lane, Snetselaar, Linda G., Bao, Wei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Body Mass Index; Child; children; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Learning Disabilities - epidemiology; learning disability; neurodevelopmental disorder; Nutrition Surveys; Selenium; serum
• ISSN: 1028-415X; 1476-8305
• DOI: 10.1080/1028415X.2021.1879541

Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders. As an anti-oxidative agent, selenium plays an important role in human health. However, the relationship between selenium status and learning disability (LD), a common neurodevelopmental disorder, is unknown. To examine the association between serum selenium concentrations and learning disability. Nationwide, population-based, cross-sectional study. Children aged 4-11 years who have available data on serum selenium concentrations and LD (N = 1,076) from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2000. Serum selenium levels were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry. Diagnosis of LD was reported by the children's parents. Logistic regression models with survey weights were conducted adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, family income, total energy intake, body mass index, and serum cotinine levels. In this study, 8.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.2%-11.2%) of children had a diagnosis of LD. Serum selenium concentration was lower among children with LD than those without LD (geometric mean ± standard error, 107.7 ± 2.7 ng/mL vs. 112.8 ± 1.0 ng/mL, P for difference = 0.08). The adjusted odds ratio (OR) of LD comparing the highest with lowest tertile of serum selenium concentrations was 0.39 (95% CI 0.19-0.82). Each 10 ng/mL increment in serum selenium concentrations was associated with 31% (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.51-0.93) lower odds of LD. Higher serum selenium concentration was associated with a lower risk of LD in U.S. children. The causal relationship between selenium and LD and the underlying mechanisms warrant further investigation.