INCREASE IN SERUM SELENIUM LEVELS IN FINNISH CHILDREN AND YOUNG-ADULTS DURING 1980-1986 - A CORRELATION BETWEEN THE SERUM LEVELS AND THE ESTIMATED INTAKE

Serum selenium concentrations of Finnish children and adolescents (age s: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 years) were analysed in 1980. The sample inc luded 1706 subjects from five different areas, each containing rural a nd urban sectors. The serum selenium concentration levels were compare d to the intakes of energy, selenium, protein, fat and carbohydrate es timated by a dietary survey (in a total of 1090 subjects from the 1706 ). In 1986 corresponding data were obtained from 280 of the subjects f rom the 1980 sample. The mean intake of selenium from food in 1980 ran ged from 12 to 23 mug per day for the different age groups. In 1986, a fter the addition of selenium to fertilizers, the mean daily intake of selenium ranged from 69 to 82 mug per day for the groups of subjects, who were 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 years old by that time. In 1980, th e children aged 3 and 6 years had lower selenium concentrations in the ir sera compared to the other age groups. However, serum selenium leve ls were higher in the Tampere and Oulu areas. In 1986 the selenium con centrations in sera increased with age (9-21-year-olds) and no regiona l differences were found. The selenium levels in sera were higher in 1 986 than in 1980 due to the increased intake after the addition of sel enium to fertilizers used in Finland. The increase in selenium levels between the 1980 and 1986 studies were, on the average, 45%. Only in 1 980 did serum selenium values correlate positively to calculated selen ium intake (mug/1000 kcal, r = 0.07, P < 0.02) and to total energy int ake (r = 0.06, P = 0.03) in children 9 years of age or older. In 1980 no statistically significant differences were found in energy, seleniu m, protein, fat or carbohydrate intake between the subjects in the 1st or 5th quintile according to their serum selenium concentrations. In contrast, in 1986 a difference was found between that of protein intak e (P = 0.04) and selenium intake (mug/1000 kcal, P = 0.05) in subjects 21 years of age.