SELENIUM INTAKE STATUS IN AN ANDEAN HIGHLAND POPULATION

Nutritional selenium (Se) status in an Andean population living at hig h altitude (4000 m above sea level) was examined using dietary Se (DSe ) intake. Mean (+/-SD) DSe intake was 47.7+/-16 mu g/day for adult mal es (19 years old and above), and 36.6+/-13 mu g/day for adult females. Two-thirds of the subjects were found to consume less Se than the U.S . Recommended Dietary Allowance values. The DSe levels among the subje cts examined were marginally lower compared to values reported from ot her areas of the world. Their blood Se (whole blood Se, erythrocyte Se and serum Se), however, appeared to be maintained at a relatively hig h level with respect to the marginally lower DSe intake. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.