Pill protects babies

Taking extra selenium could cut the risk of a complication which endangers pregnant women and their babies.

Mothers-to-be who have low levels of the mineral - found in bread, cereals and fish - are up to four times more likely to suffer from pre-eclampsia, said researchers.

Up to one in ten women in late pregnancy suffers the condition, which causes high blood pressure, blood clots and kidney damage. Some are severely affected and at least six mothers in the UK die from pre-eclampsia each year. It also leads to the deaths of up to 1,000 babies annually.

The only treatment is emergency caesarean section. Researchers at Surrey University believe declining consumption of selenium, found in Brazil nuts, poultry and meat, could be partly responsible.

They investigated selenium levels in more than 100 pregnant women, half of whom suffered from preeclampsia, at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.

Concentrations of the mineral were significantly lower in those who developed the condition.

Having the lowest levels raised the risk more than four times, said a report in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

This was also more likely to result in serious complications, with the baby having to be surgically delivered two months early. 'The findings raise the question of whether supplementing selenium levels could reduce the risk of preeclampsia,' said the study.

Britain has a low level of selenium consumption of 34 micrograms a day compared with a recommended 55 micrograms.

Selenium supplements, which contain a mix of compounds, may be a better way to ensure the right intake rather than relying on a diet.

But consumers were warned to keep their intake well below the toxic level of 800 micrograms a day.

A spokesman for medical charity Tommy's said: 'These are interesting findings but more research is necessary.'