Research Studies

Neonates born between 22-28 weeks completed gestational age (cGA) are at high risk for complications of prematurity that impair long term health. Optimizing nutrition in extremely preterm infants can provide an effective and inexpensive modification to neonatal care with potential lifelong benefit. Strategies to improve selenium (Se) status are an important opportunity for investigation. However, there are major gaps in knowledge regarding postnatal Se status and Se processing in infants born at the earliest gestational ages. The broad goals of this project are to understand (1) Se status after birth in infants born between 22-28 weeks, (2) relationship between the infants' Se status with markers of oxidative stress, and (3) how Se is absorbed and excreted in extremely preterm infants. To answer these questions, we will measure plasma Se levels at five time points from birth until 36 weeks cGA. We will measure oxidative stress in the plasma and urine. We will also conduct two 24 hours Se balance studies to evaluate Se absorption, retention and excretion, assessing early (2-3 weeks of life) and late in the postnatal course (36 weeks cGA).