URINARY SELENIUM IN HEALTHY AND DIABETIC SAUDI-ARABIANS

We examined Se in urine of 170 Saudi Arabian diabetics (19 insulin-dep endent [type 1] and 151 insulin-independent [type 2]) and in an equal number of control subjects of the same origin by measuring the ratio o f the concentration of this metal (C-Se) to that of creatinine in urin e (C-creat) for each subject. The mean (and SEM) of C-Se/C-creat for t he control subjects was 56 (2.9) mu mol/mol creat, whereas, the value for the diabetics combined or separated into type 1 and type 2 was 56. 7 (3.2), 51.5 (6.3), and 57.4 (3.5) mu mol/mol creat, respectively. Wi th the exception of type 2 diabetics who were treated with insulin in addition to oral hypoglycemic and diet (35 patients) (mean [SEM] = 43 (4.3) mu mol/mol creat), there was no significant difference in C-Se/C -creat between the diabetics and control subjects. Also, there was no significant correlation between C-Se/C-creat and age, sex, or weight o f diabetics, whereas, the correlation with the degree of diabetic cont rol was significant (p less than or equal to 0.0136). Of all diabetes- associated disorders (cardiovascular diseases, neuropathy, ophthalmolo gic diseases, infections, and hepatic disease), only ophthalmologic di seases appears to cause a significant (p less than or equal to 0.05) r eduction in C-Se/C-creat,but only among type 2 diabetics. Inasmuch as Se status is reflected by urinary Se, healthy Saudi Arabians appear to have Se status that is comparable or higher than those reported for o ther populations.