Selenium status of a group of Scottish adults

Objective: To examine dietary selenium intake and indices of selenium status (plasma and red blood cell selenium and glutathione peroxidase activities) in apparently healthy Scottish individuals. Design and subjects: One hundred subjects, aged between 40 and 60 y, completed a seven day weighed food intake and provided blood samples for selenium status analysis. Setting: Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Results: Average reported selenium intake was low (43 µg/d). A significant number of subjects had reported intakes below the RNI. Low levels of plasma selenium were also found but no subject had values below 40 µg/l. Red blood cell selenium was within the reference range established for a healthy UK population. Smoking status had no consistent effect on selenium status. Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that selenium status of certain Scottish individuals may be compromised and that further studies are warranted. Sponsorship: BASF, Germany; The Tobacco Products Research Trust, UK; Scottish Office Agriculture Environment and Fisheries Department.