Positive Health Online
Your Country
![[Image: http://www.abundanceandhealth.co.uk]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/2836.df7d2315253110ff5b3a566f94871f99.jpg "http://www.abundanceandhealth.co.uk")
![[Image: https://www.water-for-health.co.uk/]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/4046.12831f50177f8848ee87b8e94411d6b3.jpg "https://www.water-for-health.co.uk/")
![[Image: http://www.balens.co.uk]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/2148.50367fa908013fae0a7f1a171543ef92.jpg "http://www.balens.co.uk")
![[Image: http://www.drsgoodman.com/books-goodman/52-nutrition-and-cancer]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/1859.1296090fd8385e7ceff51c8011559097.jpg "http://www.drsgoodman.com/books-goodman/52-nutrition-and-cancer")
Research: GALAN and colleagues,
Listed in Issue 140
Abstract
GALAN and colleagues, Departement de Biologie Integree, CHU de Grenoble, 75003 Paris, France, JArnaud@chu-grenoble.fr, have investigated the determinants of selenium levels in blood.
Background
The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between serum selenium (Se) concentrations and the environmental determinants, lifestyle, social activity, geographic region, urban status, education, familial status, physical activity, BMI, tobacco, and food and alcohol consumption.
Methodology
Baseline results from 13 017 subjects (7876 women aged 35-60 and 5141 men aged 45-60) who participated in the SU.VI.M.AX (Supplementation en Vitamines et Mineraux Antioxydants) study were analyzed.
Results
Fewer than 2 % of the volunteers had a serum Se status under 0.75 micromol/l, which has been quoted as the cut-off of biological Se sub-deficiency. Women had significantly lower serum Se levels than men (1.09 micromol/l and 1.14 micromol/l, p<0.0001, respectively). Significant differences in serum Se concentrations were observed between geographic areas. In both sexes, the serum Se concentration increased with alcohol, meat and fish consumption, and decreased with smoking. In premenopausal women, the serum Se concentration was higher in contraceptive-pill users than in non-users. In women only, age was associated with increased serum Se concentrations, and obesity was associated with decreased serum Se levels. In men, a decrease in serum Se concentrations was observed with increased consumption of vegetables and fruit.
Conclusion
83 % of women and 75 % of men had serum concentrations below the value considered optimal for glutathione peroxidase activity. The largest Se associations in both sexes were found with regions, smoking, alcohol, meat and fish consumption. Further studies are needed to understand the difference in Se status between genders.
References
Galan P, Czernichow S, Hercberg S. Serum selenium determinants in French adults: the SU.VI.M.AX study. British Journal of Nutrition 95 (2): 313-320, Feb 2006.
Comment
The result that decreased Se concentrations in men were correlated with increased consumption of vegetables and fruit is difficult to explain, hence the author’s statement “Further studies are needed to understand the difference in Se Status between genders”.
