Selenium deficiency in Yugoslavia.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Human Health
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element crucial for human health.
• Geographical variations in soil selenium content can impact local food chains and human Se status.
• Previous research suggests potential links between low selenium levels and endemic diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the selenium status in Yugoslavia by analyzing soil, crops, and human tissues.
• To investigate the extent of selenium deficiency in the Yugoslav population.
• To explore potential correlations between selenium deficiency and endemic health issues like Balkan Endemic Nephropathy and urinary tract tumors.

Main Methods:

• Collected and analyzed samples of soil, cereal crops (wheat, corn), and garlic from various Yugoslavian regions.
• Measured selenium concentrations in human serum and scalp hair samples from a large cohort.
• Compared selenium levels with established reference ranges and data from low-selenium regions globally.

Main Results:

• Significantly low mean selenium levels were found in Yugoslavian soil (200 ± 69.6 µg/kg), wheat (20.5 ± 12.4 µg/kg), corn (13.7 ± 13.6 µg/kg), and garlic (13.7 ± 17.1 µg/kg).
• Human serum (50.0 ± 18.0 µg/L) and scalp hair (94 ± 16 µg/kg) analyses revealed a very low selenium status in the population.
• Selenium levels in some regions approached those observed in the low-selenium belt of China.

Conclusions:

• The Yugoslav population exhibits a serious selenium deficiency.
• This widespread deficiency is a potential risk factor for the development of Balkan Endemic Nephropathy and a high incidence of urinary tract tumors in endemic areas.
• Further research is warranted to confirm the etiological role of selenium deficiency in these diseases.