The interactions of spontaneous abortion, dietary intake of selenium, and fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) genotype: a case-control study in Iran

Background: Spontaneous abortion (SA) is reported to be associated with Fat Mass And Obesity-Associated FTO genotype and dietary intake of selenium. This research assessed the potential interactions between the risk of SA, dietary selenium intake, and the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism.

Methods: This case-control study encompassed 192 women who experienced SA and 347 control participants. Dietary selenium intake was evaluated using a comprehensive food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and Nutritionist IV software. The FTO gene was genotyped for rs9939609 polymorphism.

Result: The findings showed that there were no significant variations in the case and control groups’ dietary selenium intake. A lower selenium intake was inversely associated with SA only among individuals with the TT genotype of the FTO gene (β = −0.19, p = 0.04). The results remained unchanged when age, BMI, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and calorie intake were taken into account.

Conclusion: A link may exist between selenium consumption and SA, especially in individuals with the TT genotype in the FTO gene. These findings underline the influence of genetic factors on how dietary intake impacts SA. Further investigation is required to validate these conclusions.

Introduction

Spontaneous abortion (SA), also known as miscarriage, can occur before a pregnancy has been discovered and can involve several complications like an empty gestational sac, halted embryonic growth, embryo or fetus demise, and embryo expulsion and its associated tissues. SA occurs before 20 weeks’ gestation depending on various sources and definitions (1–4) and reproductive-age women have a 10% likelihood of experiencing SA (5). These women are predisposed to experiencing bleeding and infection, considered the main contributors to maternal mortality. Parents, especially mothers, face immense difficulties including various psychological, emotional, physical, and cognitive/behavioral issues that should struggle with them (6).

Several factors have been found to have an impact on the probability of SA. These include lifestyle choices such as diet, maternal smoking, and alcohol consumption. Additionally, other factors like obesity, maternal age of 35 years or older, prior history of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, anemia, urinary tract infection, and high blood pressure during pregnancy have also been associated with an increased risk of SA (7–12). Several studies demonstrated a significant association between vital micronutrients such as selenium, zinc, and copper, and the risk of reproductive issues. It has been reported that selenium is crucial in maintaining the proper functioning of the reproductive system so insufficient selenium can cause gestational complications, miscarriages, and adverse effects on the fetus’s nervous and immune systems (13). According to a recent study, selenium is an essential micronutrient that plays a vital role in reproductive health and both deficiency and excess of selenium have been linked to reproductive problems like gonadal insufficiency and gamete dysfunction in both males and females (14). Such issues can lead to the failure of embryo implantation, distorted embryonic development, and eventually, sexual dysfunction and infertility (15). Also, selenium has been identified as a crucial component of reproductive enzymes, with increasing demand during pregnancy due to the fetus’s absorption of selenium (16).

On the other hand, genome-wide association studies found that the fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) is involved in several metabolic diseases (17, 18). Abnormal methylation and oxidative stress resulting from decreased FTO expression in the chorionic villi affect immune tolerance and angiogenesis at the interface between the mother and fetus, ultimately leading to spontaneous abortion (19). Furthermore, some studies indicated that genetic variations in FTO could potentially impact weight gain and weight-related diseases by either increasing the amount of food consumed or affecting the regulation of appetite and satiety. The presence of FTO rs9939609 SNPs has been associated with increased intake of macronutrients, particularly fat and carbohydrates (20). However, research on the interaction of the FTO gene and selenium on the occurrence of SA remained limited. So, the purpose of this study was to investigate and evaluate the connection between FTO genotypes, selenium, and SA.

Materials and methods

Study population

This case-control study was initially conducted on 600 reproductive women, including 200 women with abortion and 400 women without a history of SA in Tehran, Iran. The sample size was calculated using OpenEPI online software (21) and the odds ratio obtained in a similar study (22) Participants were chosen at random women who were referred to Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital for routine medical examination. The inclusion criteria for the case group included a history of at least one placental loss before the 20th week of pregnancy, be recently diagnosed (within 3 months) and being between the ages of 20 and 40. The inclusion criteria for the control group were no history of SA and age between 20 and 40 years. Those who were taking selenium supplements (n = 7), did not wish to continue participating in the study (n = 21), or were unable to provide the necessary information (n = 33), were excluded from the study. Final analyses were performed on 539 participants including 192 women with abortion and 347 women without a history of SA. In the initial stages of the investigation, all participants were informed about the purpose and the method of the study. and a written consent was obtained from them as well.

Data collection and measurements

A standard general questionnaire was used to collect data related to various factors such as age, education level, medical history of reproductive system diseases, diabetes and hypertension, history of abortion and pregnancy, smoking, and alcohol consumption through in-person interviews. A caliper tool with a 0.5 cm accuracy was used to measure the person’s height, and a digital scale (Seca, Germany) with a 0.5 kg accuracy was used to determine their weight.

Genotyping of the FTO gene

For assessing the genotype of the FTO gene concerning rs9939609 polymorphism, 5 cc of blood was collected from all participants. Then, blood samples were centrifuged at 2,500 × g for 15 min and buffy coats were then separated. A standard kit (Gene All Company, South Korea) was used to extract DNA. The NanoDrop device (Thermo Scientific, Wilmington, DE, United States) was applied to quantify DNA concentration. The optical density (OD) of the samples was measured at a wavelength of 260–280 nm. The quality of the extracted DNA was assessed by agarose gel electrophoresis. About 200 ng DNA was taken for the amplification of the FTO gene using the PCR method and the DNA Polymerase Master Mix DNA Polymerase (cat. No. A180301; Ampliqon, Denmark) (23) (Figure 1).

Figure 1

Figure 1. The assosiation between selenium, abortion, and FTO polymorphisms. Created by Copilot (2024), powered by OpenAI’s DALL-E 3 model, integrated alongside the GPT-4 language model.

Dietary intake of selenium

Previously validated in Iran, the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) (24) was utilized to collect the relevant diet-related data. Information about calorie intake, whole and refined grains, fruits and vegetables, simple sugars, fat, salty snacks, dairy products, and meats over the course of a year was assessed using these questionnaires. Portion sizes were adjusted to grams after accounting for household measurements. The number of calories and nutrients was evaluated using the US Department of Agriculture’s food composition table (FCT) (USDA, Release 11, 1994, modified for Iranian cuisine). For local goods that were not available in the FCT, the Iranian FCT was taken into consideration. Additionally, the Nutritionist 4 software (Axxya Systems, United States) was used to evaluate the intake of nutrients in children, and the intake of total selenium was examined.

Statistical analysis

For the qualitative and quantitative variables, chi-square and independent t-test techniques were utilized to compare food intake and sociodemographic markers, respectively. The linear regression method was used to investigate the association between dietary intake of selenium and SA. Additionally, in order to look into how the FTO gene genotype affects the relationship between selenium intake and abortion, regression analysis was performed separately in individuals with AA/AT and TT genotypes according to the dominant genetic model. All analyses were performed using IBM SPSS version 27 at significant level of p < 0.05.

Results

Table 1 displays the participants’ overall characteristics. The cases had a higher history of diabetes (31% vs. 23%, p = 0.001). There was no significant difference between the groups regarding age, weight, height, BMI, menstruation first age, Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), Hemoglobin (HGB), RBC: Red Blood Cell (RBC), hematocrit (HCT), White Blood Cell (WBC), Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), platelet, lymphocyte, monocyte, Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, TG (Triglycerides), cholesterol, Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase (SGOT), Serum Glutamate Pyruvate Transaminase (SGPT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDLC), Low-density Lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), PCR result, tobacco usage, hypertension, and intakes of carbohydrate, calorie, protein, fats, and selenium.

Table 1

Table 1. General characteristics of the participants.

As shown in Table 2, no significant difference was observed in dietary intakes in carriers of AA/AT FTO genotypes. Dietary intake of selenium in the cases was partially lower than the controls in carriers of TT genotype of FTO rs9930609 polymorphism (90.3 ± 24.89 vs. 101.16 ± 36.6, p = 0.07).

Table 2

Table 2. Dietary intake of the participants considering FTO rs9939609 genotypes.

Linear regression of the association between SA and selenium intake considering FTO genotypes for rs9939609 polymorphism is presented in Table 3. A negative association was found between SA and the intake of selenium in individuals with TT genotypes (β = −0.19, p = 0.04) (Model 1). The relationship remained significant after adjusting for age (Model 2), further adjustment for BMI and physical activity, smoking, and alcohol drinking (Model 3), and further adjustment for calorie intake (Model 4). There was no significant association between selenium intake and SA in individuals with AA and AT genotypes.

Table 3

Table 3. Linear regression of the association between SA and selenium intake considering FTO genotypes for rs9939609 polymorphism.

Discussion

The aim of this study was the investigate the associations between FTO genotypes, selenium, and SA. The result indicated that there was a negative correlation between SA and selenium intake in people with TT genotypes. There was no significant association between selenium intake and SA in individuals with AA and AT genotypes.

The effects of diet components on the risk of SA have been widely reported (13, 25). The results of this study on the association between selenium and SA are in line with those of a number of other studies (26, 27). Similarly, some previous studies have suggested that the association between SA risk and dietary components may be influenced by FTO genotype (28, 29).

Selenium was reported to be involved in pregnancy outcomes (30–33). Selenium is essential for the immune system’s reaction and infection resistance (34). The link between selenium deficiency and SA has been explained by at least three different processes. The first is the deterioration of selenium-dependent antioxidant capacity, which damages DNA and cell membranes (30). The second is a reduction in antithrombin III activity as a result of selenium deficiency (35) and the third is the decreased activity of selenium-containing enzymes, or selenioenzymes, which have been shown to suppress the expression of pro-inflammatory genes linked to unfavorable pregnancy outcomes (34, 36, 37). However, the FTO gene was identified as a separate genetic risk factor for obesity for the first time in a genome-wide association study (38). More recently, polymorphisms in the FTO gene have been found to be associated with a variety of diseases, including cancer, diabetes mellitus, heart attack, and kidney failure. However, the exact function of the FTO gene in biology is still unknown (39). The process of nucleic acid demethylation involves the FTO gene. The FTO gene is a possible candidate gene for SA susceptibility since proper fetal development is dependent on DNA methylation. Furthermore, FTO’s possible involvement in fetal development is further supported by the high expression of the protein in human placentas and its correlation with larger fetal weights and lengths (40). Understanding the correlation between SA and dietary selenium intake in people with different genotypes will help us to plan a tailored diet to reduce the incidence of SA in at-risk populations.

Regarding the possible mechanisms, selenium has been identified to play several critical roles in maintaining pregnancy, including antioxidant defense, immune regulation, and thyroid hormone metabolism. Selenium deficiency may be associated with reduced activity of glutathione peroxidases, leading to increased oxidative stress factor that might lead to placental damage. Altered immune responses and impaired thyroid function may be associated with low selenium levels, which can be the reason for implantation not taking place or it might lead to an imbalance in hormonal levels, which is one of the causes of SA (41).

Though the FTO gene is mainly identified with obesity and the regulation of metabolism, pregnancy outcomes can be influenced indirectly (23). Variants of the FTO gene are associated with higher BMI and metabolic disturbances, factors that increase the risk of complications in pregnancy. In addition, FTO as an RNA demethylase could affect the expression of genes involved in placental function and fetal development through epigenetic mechanisms leading to an increased risk of spontaneous abortion. Yet, another interaction between selenium and FTO may be genetic variations that determine the metabolism or utilization of selenium, hence pregnancy outcomes. Despite these seemingly reasonable biological pathways, the evidence has remained limited; therefore, further research into how selenium and FTO interact with the risk of SA may be necessary (19, 41, 42) (Figure 2).

Figure 2

Figure 2. Epigenetic regulation and influencing expression.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate how the rs9939609 polymorphism in the FTO gene affects the relationship between selenium and SA. A large number of participants and adjustment for potential confounders were other strengths of this study. However, the FFQ used to assess diet is a self-report tool and is subject to some errors such as recall bias and under-reporting of dietary intake in obese and overweight participants. Furthermore, the selection of individuals from a single hospital may make it difficult to generalize the findings. There is a need to conduct more long-term research to validate these results.

Conclusion

According to the study, individuals with TT genotypes showed a negative link between SA and selenium intake, whereas no significant association was observed between SA and selenium intake in individuals with AA and AT genotypes. These findings emphasize the importance of personalized diets in preventing SA. If the results are confirmed in future studies, we can use selenium-rich diets and selenium supplements to prevent SA in people who have a genetic predisposition. However, more research is needed to completely comprehend the connection between dietary factors and FTO gene polymorphisms in determining the risk of SA.

Data availability statement

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Ethics statement

The studies involving humans were approved by Ethical Committee of the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (code: IR.GUMS.REC.1402.123). The studies were conducted in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. Written informed consent for participation in this study was provided by the participants’ legal guardians/next of kin.

Author contributions

NN: Writing – review & editing. ZS: Writing – review & editing. SS: Writing – review & editing. SN: Writing – review & editing. ZM: Writing – review & editing. KA: Writing – review & editing. SA: Writing – original draft. SK: Data curation, Writing – review & editing. PB: Writing – review & editing. SD: Writing – original draft. MA: Writing – review & editing. MG: Writing – review & editing.

Funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. National Institute for Medical Research Development, Tehran, Iran, provided financial support for the investigation (Code 4021687).

Acknowledgments

We thank from the participants and our colleagues in Shohadaye Tajrish hospital for their nice cooperations. Figure 1 was created by Copilot, powered by OpenAI’s DALL-E 3 model, integrated alongside the GPT-4 language model.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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