The selenium concentration in foods grown and consumed and in plasma,
red blood cells, and toenails of people living in the district of Chit
a in the transbaikalian part of Russia were studied in August 1991. Pr
eliminary results from the area have suggested low selenium intakes an
d the possible occurrence of cardiomyopathy (Keshan disease) in the po
pulation. A low selenium concentration in foods grown locally was foun
d: mean selenium concentration in wheat grains was 1, 5, and 28 mu g/k
g, respectively, in three villages studied, that of oats was between 3
-6 mu g/kg, and of cow's milk 10-27 mu g/kg dry matter. The selenium c
oncentration of bread was considerably higher, between 87-337 mu g/kg
dry wt, presumably because wheat imported from the US had been used fo
r baking. Occasional samples of pork, beef, and mutton contained betwe
en 32-218 mu g selenium/kg dry wt. Low selenium concentrations were ob
served in samples of soil and river water. The mean plasma selenium co
ncentration of 52 persons was 1.02 mu mol/L, including 33 children and
19 adult subjects. The selenium concentrations in red blood cells and
toenails were 1.95 mu mol/L and 0.61 mg/kg, respectively. No symptoms
of heart disease caused by selenium deficiency were observed. It is c
oncluded that the selenium status of people was fairly good thanks to
the contribution to dietary intake of imported wheat with a high selen
ium content. As the selenium concentration was very low in foods grown
in the area, the selenium intake of the population will be reduced to
a very low level if only locally produced foods are consumed.