SELENIUM AND GLUTATHIONE-PEROXIDASE REFERENCE VALUES IN WHOLE-BLOOD AND PLASMA OF A REFERENCE POPULATION LIVING IN VALENCIA, SPAIN

In order to assess the reference values for selenium nutritional statu s, adequate indicators (selenium concentration and glutathione peroxid ase activity) were determined in whole blood and blood derivates of a healthy population (n=287) from the province of Valencia, Spain. The r eference population was selected by applying preestablished criteria. Selenium in whole blood and plasma was measured by graphite furnace at omic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS), with a deuterium correction, aft er addition of Pd/Mg(NO3)(2) as the matrix modifier and appropriate di lution. Accuracy was checked by means of a reference material (Seronor m Trace Metals serum and whole blood). The population's reference inte rvals for selenium content at a 95% confidence level were: 53.03 - 108 .96 and 66.71 - 119.4 mg/L for plasma and whole blood selenium concent ration respectively.GPX activity was measured using a modification of the Paglia and Valentine method, and the reference intervals obtained ranged from 196 to 477 U/L in plasma, from 49 to 93 U/gHb in erythrocy tes and from 52 to 96 U/g Hb in whole blood. The only statistically si gnificant differences detected between men and women are for to the GP X acivity in whole blood. The results obtained are in the range of val ues found by others authors in healthy populations residing in differe nt European countries.