Comparison of selenium status between Japanese living in Tokyo and Japanese Brazilians in Rio Paulo, Brazil

Selenium (Se) concentrations were determined in human serum, rice and wheat flour sampled in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and compared with those sa mpled in Tokyo, Japan. Serum levels of Se were significantly lower in Japan ese Brazilians than Japanese living in Tokyo. The samples of rice consumed by Japanese Brazilians in Sao Paulo contained 22.7 ng Se/g on average, whic h was about half the selenium level in rice consumed in Tokyo. Rice commonl y consumed in Sao Paulo might be one of the factors to lower the serum leve l of Se.