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Predictors of selenium concentration in human toenails
D J Hunter1, J S Morris, C G Chute
1Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
American Journal of Epidemiology
|July 1, 1990
Summary
Toenail selenium levels accurately reflect selenium supplement intake, but not dietary intake. Factors like age and smoking influence toenail selenium, unlike alcohol consumption.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional biochemistry
- Environmental health
Background:
- Human toenails can serve as a biomarker for selenium exposure.
- Understanding factors influencing toenail selenium levels is crucial for accurate dietary intake assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate toenail selenium concentration as a measure of selenium intake.
- To identify other correlates of toenail selenium levels in US women.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of toenail selenium concentration in two subgroups of a US women cohort study.
- Comparison of toenail selenium levels between selenium supplement users and nonusers.
- Assessment of correlations between toenail selenium and age, smoking, alcohol consumption, and dietary selenium scores.
Main Results:
- Mean toenail selenium was significantly higher in selenium supplement users compared to nonusers.
- A dose-response relationship was observed between selenium supplement dosage and toenail selenium levels.
- Toenail selenium declined with age and was lower in cigarette smokers, but unaffected by alcohol consumption.
- Dietary selenium scores from food frequency questionnaires did not predict toenail selenium levels.
Conclusions:
- Toenail selenium concentration is a valid biomarker for selenium supplement intake.
- Dietary selenium intake assessment using food frequency questionnaires is unreliable due to food selenium variability.
- Age and smoking are significant correlates of toenail selenium levels.