Serum selenium levels in healthy adults and its changes in chronic renal failure

In this study the serum selenium levels of 500 healthy Greeks and 225 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) were measured using Watkinson's method. The patients were treated either conservatively or by peritoneal dialysis or haemodialysis. We found that the levels were in an intermediate position compared to those of other Europeans. Selenium levels were also found to increase significantly with age. No difference was detected between male and female patients. A statistically significant drop was observed in CRF patients compared to age matched controls. This drop was smaller in patients treated conservatively than in those treated by peritoneal dialysis. A further drop was observed in patients under haemodialysis.