SELENIUM STATUS OF A GROUP OF SCOTTISH ADULTS

Objective: To examine dietary selenium intake and indices of selenium status (plasma and red blood cell selenium and glutathione peroxidase activities) in apparently healthy Scottish individuals. Design and sub jects: One hundred subjects, aged between 40 and 60 y, completed a sev en day weighed food; intake and provided blood samples for selenium st atus analysis. Setting: Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Results: A verage reported selenium intake was low (43 mu g/d). A significant num ber of subjects had reported intakes below the RNI. Low levels of plas ma selenium were also found but no subject had values below 40 mu g/l. Red blood cell selenium was within the reference range established fo r a healthy UK population. Smoking status had no consistent effect on selenium status. Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that selenium status of certain Scottish individuals may be compromis ed and that further studies are warranted.