SELENIUM STATUS IN TURKEY .2. SERUM SELENIUM CONCENTRATION IN HEALTHYRESIDENTS OF DIFFERENT AGES IN ANKARA

In this study we determined the serum selenium concentraction of 218 h ealthy individuals at different ages, in Ankara, using a spectrofluori metric method. The mean selenium levels were found to be 45 +/- 10 mug /L in cord blood at birth; 69 +/- 13 mug/L in 2 month - 12 month-old i nfants; 77 +/- 12 gg/L- in children aged > 12 months - 16 years; and 7 4 +/- 16 mug/L in adults aged 18 - 48 years. Selenium concentrations s howed age dependency, increasing significantly in childhood but decrea sing after 40 years of age. No relation to the sex, dietary habits, so cioeconomical status or hematological parameters such as hemoglobin co ncentration and white blood cell count, was observed. The results obta ined thus suggest that the status of selenium in Ankara residents is i n a range that could be considered as safe and adequate.