Selenium serum concentrations in malnourished Ecuadorian children: a case-control study

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Science
• Pediatric Health
• Environmental Health

Background:

• Low selenium content in Andean volcanic soil may impact regional nutritional status.
• Selenium deficiency is linked to impaired immune function and increased infection risk in humans.
• Limited data exists on selenium status among children in South American Andean regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess serum selenium concentrations in severely malnourished children in Andean Ecuador.
• To compare selenium levels between malnourished children (marasmus, kwashiorkor) and a healthy control group.
• To investigate the prevalence of selenium deficiency in this vulnerable pediatric population.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving 43 malnourished children (6-36 months) and 30 controls in Quito, Ecuador.
• Serum selenium concentrations were measured using microM/L units.
• Statistical analysis compared selenium levels across groups and identified deficiency prevalence (serum levels < 1.08 microM/L).

Main Results:

• Severely malnourished children had significantly lower serum selenium than controls (p < 0.001).
• Children with kwashiorkor showed the lowest selenium levels, significantly lower than those with marasmus (p < 0.001).
• High prevalence of selenium deficiency observed: 100% in kwashiorkor, 71% in marasmus, and 17% in normal children.

Conclusions:

• Selenium deficiency is prevalent among malnourished children in Andean Ecuador.
• Protein-energy malnutrition is strongly associated with low selenium status in this population.
• Even children with normal weight-for-age-Z scores exhibit significant rates of selenium deficiency.