Interaction between selenium and zinc in the pathogenesis of anencephaly and spina bifida.

We present preliminary evidence that Selenium (Se) enhances zinc (Zn) accumulation in cultured skin fibroblasts from fetuses with NTD. Zn accumulation was decreased in NTD cells compared to controls and was increased but remained below the basal levels of controls when a 3-fold dose of Se was added to the culture media for 48 hours prior to the addition of Zn. These studies at the cellular level are in agreement with the epidemiologic evidence suggesting a correlation between low levels of Se in the diet and higher incidence of NTD.