Prenatal maternal Selenium and neurodevelopment in early childhood

The importance of investigating maternal Se concentration and neurodevelopment outcomes in Low to middle income countries (LMIC) such as Nepal, is underscored by the fact that there is no proper documentation of Se status in population level and during pregnancy in these settings. Nepal is also considered as Se deficient areas and hence pregnant women as well as young children in Nepal are at risk of Se deficiency which has potentially lifelong adverse consequences for their health and neurodevelopment.

The overall aim of this PhD project is to explore the association between maternal Se concentration and child neurodevelopment through early childhood. The current project will be based on longitudinal data from a community-based study following mothers yearly from early pregnancy and their offspring until they are 48 months. The sample consist of 800 pregnant women who were residing in the Bhaktapur district, Nepal. They originally participated in a large community-based, individually randomized, double-blinded placebo-controlled trial measuring the effects of daily vitamin B12 supplementation. We will use different neurodevelopment assessments and mental health including Test of infant motor performance (TIMP) scale at 8-12 weeks. A comprehensive neurodevelopment assessment tool: Bayley scale of Infant and Toddler Development-Third Edition (Bayley-3) will be conducted at  6, 12, 24 and 36 months, and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV) 48 months. Mental health will be assessed by the  Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).