Effect of supplementation with organic selenium on mercury status as measured by mercury in pubic hair

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of four months of yeas t-based selenium supplementation on selenium and mercury status in subjects with low serum selenium. The study was carried out in Rakvere, Estonia. Pubic hair mercury, serum se lenium and blood selenium concentrations in 23 subjects (serum selenium < 9 0 mu g/l) were investigated before and after selenium supplementation. Thir teen subjects were randomized into the selenium supplementation group and t en into the placebo group. The selenium supplementation group received dail y 100 mu g of selenomethionine. Selenium supplementation reduced pubic hair mercury level by 34 % (p=0.005) and elevated serum selenium by 73 % and bl ood selenium by 59 % in the supplemented group (p<0.001 for both). The stud y indicates that mercury accumulation in pubic hair can be reduced by dieta ry supplementation with small daily amounts of organic selenium in a short range of time.