Selenium concentration in maternal and umbilical cord blood, placenta and amniotic membranes.

The selenium concentration of maternal and umbilical cord whole blood was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 21 parturients at term. Six placental and amniotic membrane tissue specimens were also investigated. The mean selenium concentrations in the maternal (0.73 +/- 0.15 mumol/l) and umbilical cord blood (0.77 +/- 0.18 mumol/l) were similar and without significant correlation. Placental (2.24 +/- 0.20 mumol/kg wet weight) and amniotic membrane tissue specimens (2.32 +/- 0.54 mumol/kg wet weight) also contained similar concentrations of selenium which were about 3 times higher than those in the maternal and umbilical cord blood. Low whole blood selenium concentration in Finnish parturients may be a sign of deficient nutritional intake of selenium during pregnancy. The relatively high concentration of selenium in the placenta and amniotic membranes on the other hand suggest that metabolically active organs are being provided primarily with this essential trace element.