EVALUATION OF SELENIUM SUPPLY AND STATUS OF INHABITANTS IN 3 SELECTEDRURAL AND URBAN REGIONS OF THE CZECH-REPUBLIC

Blood serum selenium of 65 men and hair selenium of 77 men from three regions of the Czech Republic (CR) were analyzed by neutron activation analysis, and 202 samples of urine from the same populations were ana lyzed for Se by the fluorimetric method to assess selenium status of t hese regions. Low status (53 mu g Se/L of serum and 0.29 mu g Se/g lyo philized hair as means) and very low urine selenium (8.7 mu g/L urine) were detected. By these data, the CR is among the countries with the lowest Se intake. A comparison of studied regions is presented. Moreov er, values of serum zinc were within the reference range, but mild to moderate deficiency in the supply of iodine was detected.