DETERMINATION OF SELENIUM IN SERUM BY HYDRIDE GENERATION ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY FOR CALCULATION OF DAILY DIETARY-INTAKE

Hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determin e the seienium concentrations in 130 samples of human serum from a con trol group of inhabitants in the southern part of the province of Gran ada (Spain). The mean selenium concentration in serum was 74.9 mu g/l. This concentration did not vary significantly (P > 0.05) in relation to the sex of the subject, with concentrations of 80.6 mu g/l in men a nd 70.7 mu g/l in women. These mean values correspond to a mean daily dietary selenium intake of 50.4 mu g per day in men and 44.6 mu g per day in women. A considerable number of the individuals in the study ar ea therefore have a daily selenium intake lower than the recommended d ietary allowance of 70 mu g per day for men and 55 mu g per day for wo men. Likewise, the measured selenium concentrations in the basic healt h zones of the area were not statistically different (P > 0.05). The d ifferences in selenium concentration between subjects in coastal zones and mountainous zones are therefore not significant.