The relationship between selenium deficiency and recurrent miscarriage

Background: Spontaneous recurrent abortion is the occurrence of two or more consecutive spontaneous abortions before the twentieth week of gestation and this is an increasingly common problem among women globally. Selenium has been postulated to be a contributing factor in pregnancy outcomes due to its antioxidant activity, its role in immune and thyroid functions. Objective: The general purpose of this study was to determine the serum selenium concentrations in women with recurrent miscarriage and compare them with those of women without such history. Further, the study was to explore the effectiveness of selenium supplementation in pregnancy in women with recurrent miscarriage.Methodology: this was an interventional cohort research run at Tikrit Teaching Hospital in Tikrit, Iraq between September 2024 and January 2025. The study included 100 individuals overall, divided into two groups: group 1 consisted of 50 women with a history of recurrent miscarriage and group 2 consisted of 50 women without such history. Every participant gave their permission; their ages fell between 20 and 40 years. Blood samples were obtained to determine the serum selenium, vitamin D, TSH, iron, and CRP. The women suffering recurrent miscarriage took selenium tablets at a 100-µg daily dosage for three months. Results: measured were baseline and three-month serum levels of selenium. Pregnancy results were tracked and rates of miscarriage were noted. According to the study, women in the recurrent miscarriage group had lower selenium concentration in their serum (60.2±12.5 µg/L) than those in the control group (110.5±20.1 µg/L). Apart from the control group, the group suffering repeated miscarriages also showed lower vitamin D levels, higher TSH and higher CRP. Selenium supplementation for three months increased the serum selenium levels of the recurrent miscarriage group to 95.7±16.3 µg/L. The rate of miscarriage in the recurrent miscarriage group decreased from 40% before supplementation to 20% after supplementation. The rate of miscarriage in the control group was 5%. Conclusion: On the basis of the obtained results, the present study indicates that selenium deficiency may be connected with recurrent miscarriage and that selenium supplementation may enhance the pregnancy results in women with a history of recurrent miscarriage. Despite the fact that selenium supplementation led to a remarkable increase in serum selenium concentration and lowering of the miscarriage rate, more studies are required to establish the clinical value and the correct quantity for the treatment of recurrent miscarriage.