Publications by authors named "Elizabeth Belling"
Article Synopsis
- This study investigated how maternal copper levels during pregnancy affect the risk of preterm birth (PTB) and the length of gestation.
- In a large group of 10,449 pregnancies from 18 different regions, researchers found that higher maternal copper levels were linked to an increased risk of PTB and shorter pregnancy duration.
- The findings suggest that elevated copper levels may be associated with inflammation and infections, potentially impacting pregnancy outcomes.
Background: Pregnant women in Malawi are at risk of selenium deficiency, which can have adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes. Interventions for improving selenium status are needed.
Objectives: To assess the effect of provision of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNSs) to Malawian women during pregnancy on their plasma selenium concentrations at 36 wk of gestation.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to determine the relationship between low maternal selenium (Se) levels and the risk of recurrent spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) in pregnant women with a history of early sPTB.
- Researchers conducted a nested case-control study using blood samples collected from pregnant women with European ancestry at around 20 weeks of gestation, categorizing them into high-risk and low-risk groups based on their birth history.
- Findings revealed that women with recurrent sPTB were significantly more likely to have low Se levels compared to low-risk controls, but the genetic analysis did not show a clear link between maternal Se levels and preterm birth risk, indicating that while low Se is associated with sPTB, it lacks predictive power for
Article Synopsis
- Selenium (Se) is an essential trace mineral linked to preterm birth (PTB), and this study investigated its impact on PTB risk and gestational duration in nearly 10,000 maternal samples from diverse populations.
- The analysis found a significant associations where higher maternal Se concentrations correlated with reduced PTB risk and longer gestational periods; specifically, an increase of 15 ng/mL in Se was associated with a decrease in PTB odds by about 5% and an increase of 0.66 days in gestation duration.
- However, variability in results among different study sites indicates that factors unique to each population may influence these associations, highlighting the need for further research to clarify the underlying biological mechanisms and potential clinical implications.