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. 2011 Jul 18:10:75.
doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-10-75.

Determinants of selenium status in healthy adults

Gerald F Combs Jr  1 , Jennifer C Watts, Matthew I Jackson, LuAnn K Johnson, Huawei Zeng, Angela J Scheett, Eric O Uthus, Lutz Schomburg, Antonia Hoeg, Carolin S Hoefig, Cindy D Davis, John A Milner
Affiliations

Determinants of selenium status in healthy adults

Gerald F Combs Jr et al. Nutr J. .

Abstract

Background: Selenium (Se) status in non-deficient subjects is typically assessed by the Se contents of plasma/serum. That pool comprises two functional, specific selenoprotein components and at least one non-functional, non-specific components which respond differently to changes in Se intake. A more informative means of characterizing Se status in non-deficient individuals is needed.

Methods: Multiple biomarkers of Se status (plasma Se, serum selenoprotein P [SEPP1], plasma glutathione peroxidase activity [GPX3], buccal cell Se, urinary Se) were evaluated in relation to selenoprotein genotypes (GPX1, GPX3, SEPP1, SEP15), dietary Se intake, and parameters of single-carbon metabolism in a cohort of healthy, non-Se-deficient men (n = 106) and women (n = 155).

Conclusions: Plasma Se concentration was 142.0 ± 23.5 ng/ml, with GPX3 and serum-derived SEPP1 calculated to comprise 20% and 34%, respectively, of that total. The balance, comprised of non-specific components, accounted for virtually all of the interindividual variation in total plasma Se. Buccal cell Se was associated with age and plasma homocysteine (hCys), but not plasma Se. SEPP1 showed a quadratic relationship with body mass index, peaking at BMI 25-30. Urinary Se was greater in women than men, and was associated with metabolic body weight (kg0.75), plasma folate, vitamin B12 and hCys (negatively). One GPX1 genotype (679T/T) was associated with significantly lower plasma Se levels than other allelic variants. Selenium intake, estimated from food frequency questionnaires, did not predict Se status as indicated by any biomarker. These results show that genotype, methyl-group status and BMI contribute to variation in Se biomarkers in Se-adequate individuals.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Selection and randomization of subjects.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Frequency distribution of baseline plasma Se levels.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Relationships of plasma Se level and values of other biomarkers of Se status. From top to bottom: Panel A. Plasma GPX3; Panel B. Serum SEPP1 level; Panel C. Buccal cell Se level; Panel D. Urinary Se level; Panel E. Plasma non-specific Se (as described in the text).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Relationship of serum SEPP1 level and body mass index (BMI).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Relationship of plasma Se level and estimated Se dietary intake.
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