Antioxidants and the development of leukemia in children

Summary

In a context where radon is considered a possible risk factor for childhood leukemia, antioxidants have been suggested as a potential preventive measure. This project aims to investigate whether maternal antioxidant status, with a particular focus on selenium during pregnancy, is associated with the risk of later development of childhood leukemia. We will also assess the interaction between selenium status and other antioxidants, including essential and non-essential elements. The project will use questionnaire and biological data from MoBa, MoBa's copy of MFR, and the Cancer Registry in a nested case-control design. The project is part of the EU-funded project RadoNORM. Aggregate results from this study on antioxidants can be compared with results from similar studies conducted by national (ref. REK no. 469895) and international partners with the overarching goal of studying the association between radon and the risk of childhood leukemia development.