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Marginal dietary selenium intakes in the UK: are there functional consequences?
Malcolm J Jackson1, Caroline S Broome, Francis McArdle
1Department of Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GA, UK. mjj@liv.ac.uk
The Journal of Nutrition
|May 6, 2003
Summary
Marginal selenium deficiency risks are unclear, but restoring selenium intake in UK subjects shows biochemical effects. Further research is needed to determine if these selenium-related biochemical changes impact overall health.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Human Health
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Overt selenium deficiency causes known pathologies in humans and animals.
- Chronic marginal selenium undernutrition's health effects, including cancer risk, remain unclear.
- UK dietary selenium intake has decreased over 25 years without recognized functional consequences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of marginal selenium deficiency.
- To assess the functional consequences of decreased selenium intake in the UK.
- To determine if restored selenium intake leads to functional health changes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of selenium deficiency and undernutrition effects.
- Biochemical assessments of selenium-dependent enzyme activity.
- Monitoring of dietary selenium intake trends in the UK population.
Main Results:
- Restoration of selenium intake in UK subjects has induced biochemical effects.
- Increased activity of selenium-dependent enzymes observed following selenium intake restoration.
- Functional consequences of these biochemical changes are yet to be determined.
Conclusions:
- Biochemical changes occur with restored selenium intake, indicating biological responsiveness.
- The functional health implications of marginal selenium deficiency and subsequent restoration require further investigation.
- Understanding selenium's role in human health, particularly in populations with reduced intake, is crucial.