Folic acid and selenite during reproduction, gestation and lactation protect against ethanol changed Se bioavailability

Fetal Programming Is Deeply Related to Maternal Selenium Status and Oxidative Balance; Experimental Offspring Health Repercussions

Nutrients consumed by mothers during pregnancy and lactation can exert permanent effects upon infant developing tissues, which could represent an important risk factor for diseases during adulthood. One of the important nutrients that contributes to regulating the cell cycle and tissue development and functionality is the trace element selenium (Se). Maternal Se requirements increase during gestation and lactation. Se performs its biological action by forming part of 25 selenoproteins, most of which have antioxidant properties, such as glutathione peroxidases (GPxs) and selenoprotein P (SELENOP). These are also related to endocrine regulation, appetite, growth and energy homeostasis. In experimental studies, it has been found that low dietary maternal Se supply leads to an important oxidative disruption in dams and in their progeny. This oxidative stress deeply affects gestational parameters, and leads to intrauterine growth retardation and abnormal development of tissues, which is related to endocrine metabolic imbalance. Childhood pathologies related to oxidative stress during pregnancy and/or lactation, leading to metabolic programing disorders like fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), have been associated with a low maternal Se status and intrauterine growth retardation. In this context, Se supplementation therapy to alcoholic dams avoids growth retardation, hepatic oxidation and improves gestational and breastfeeding parameters in FASD pups. This review is focused on the important role that Se plays during intrauterine and breastfeeding development, in order to highlight it as a marker and/or a nutritional strategy to avoid diverse fetal programming disorders related to oxidative stress.

The role of folic acid and selenium against oxidative damage from ethanol in early life programming: a review

There are disorders in children, covered by the umbrella term “fetal alcohol spectrum disorder” (FASD), that occur as result of alcohol consumption during pregnancy and lactation. They appear, at least in part, to be related to the oxidative stress generated by ethanol. Ethanol metabolism generates reactive oxygen species and depletes the antioxidant molecule glutathione (GSH), leading to oxidative stress and lipid and protein damage, which are related to growth retardation and neurotoxicity, thereby increasing the incidence of FASD. Furthermore, prenatal and postnatal exposure to ethanol in dams, as well as increasing oxidation in offspring, causes malnutrition of several micronutrients such as the antioxidant folic acid and selenium (Se), affecting their metabolism and bodily distribution. Although abstinence from alcohol is the only way to prevent FASD, it is possible to reduce its harmful effects with a maternal dietary antioxidant therapy. In this review, folic acid and Se have been chosen to be analyzed as antioxidant intervention systems related to FASD because, like ethanol, they act on the methionine metabolic cycle, being related to the endogenous antioxidants GSH and glutathione peroxidase. Moreover, several birth defects are related to poor folate and Se status.

Low folate and selenium in the mouse maternal diet alters liver gene expression patterns in the offspring after weaning

During pregnancy, selenium (Se) and folate requirements increase, with deficiencies linked to neural tube defects (folate) and DNA oxidation (Se). This study investigated the effect of a high-fat diet either supplemented with (diet H), or marginally deficient in (diet L), Se and folate. Pregnant female mice and their male offspring were assigned to one of four treatments: diet H during gestation, lactation and post-weaning; diet L during gestation, lactation and post-weaning; diet H during gestation and lactation but diet L fed to offspring post-weaning; or diet L during gestation and lactation followed by diet H fed to offspring post-weaning. Microarray and pathway analyses were performed using RNA from colon and liver of 12-week-old male offspring. Gene set enrichment analysis of liver gene expression showed that diet L affected several pathways including regulation of translation (protein biosynthesis), methyl group metabolism, and fatty acid metabolism; this effect was stronger when the diet was fed to mothers, rather than to offspring. No significant differences in individual gene expression were observed in colon but there were significant differences in cell cycle control pathways. In conclusion, a maternal low Se/folate diet during gestation and lactation has more effects on gene expression in offspring than the same diet fed to offspring post-weaning; low Se and folate in utero and during lactation thus has persistent metabolic effects in the offspring.

Effects of antioxidant supplementation on duodenal Se-Met absorption in ethanol-exposed rat offspring in vivo

The nutritional deficiencies provoked by ethanol consumption, during gestation or lactation, can contribute to multiple birth defects in offspring. In order to improve our knowledge about selenium (Se) distribution in pups exposed to ethanol, the present study evaluated the effect of this drug on intestinal development and determined its action on duodenal absorption of selenomethionine (Se-Met). To determinate if supplementation could improve Se absorption and its serum values, we used two antioxidant supplemented regimens on dams, with selenium alone or selenium plus folic acid, and obtained six groups of pups: C (control), A (alcohol), CS (control + Se), AS (alcohol + Se), CFS (control + Se + folic acid) and AFS (alcohol + Se + folic acid). Duodenal Se-Met transport was performed using an in vivo perfusion method. Se levels were measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The supplemented diets utilized had a positive influence on body growth, duodenal perimeter and Se content in ethanol-exposed pups. Ethanol exposure increased Se-Met duodenal absorption in all pups, supplemented or not, presenting the highest values of maximal velocity (V(max)) compared with their control counterparts. The affinity constant (K(m)) increased according to rank: A>AS>AFS groups. These results suggest that although antioxidant supplementation does not restore Se-Met absorption to normal values, it enhances the affinity of the transporters for the substrate and improves the damage caused by ethanol in the duodenal mucosa.

Selenium or selenium plus folic acid intake improves the detrimental effects of ethanol on pups' selenium balance

The levels of folic acid and selenium, two nutrients with antioxidant properties, decrease in dams exposed to ethanol during gestation and lactation. This decrease affects their antioxidant balance, and consequently the health of their offspring. In this study we have proved that a supplemented diet with Se (0.5 ppm) or with Se (0.5 ppm) plus folic acid (8 ppm) to ethanol-exposed (20%v/v) dams prevents the ethanol-provoked effects in their offspring's Se deposits. Se levels in milk, serum, urine, faeces and several tissues were measured by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Results show that ethanol decreases Se deposits in pups' heart, liver, kidney and testes. However Se levels in pancreas and in serum were increased by ethanol; it also compromised the weight and the length of the offspring at the end of lactation. Our supplemented diets to ethanol dams increased all of these impaired levels, and restored Se pancreas concentration to a control status. However Se-only therapy mainly displaces Se to serum, kidney and spleen, and co-treatment with Se plus folic acid, mainly displaces Se to liver and brain. This data demonstrate that the qualitative and quantitative Se organ deposits depend on ethanol consumption, Se status, and the presence of other antioxidants.