A preliminary predictive model for selenium nutritional status in residents based on three selenium biomarkers

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Nutritional Science
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Selenium (Se) is vital for human health, with deficiency or excess causing disease.
• Dietary intake is the primary determinant of Se nutritional status.
• Se levels in food are influenced by soil content and transfer through the food chain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate Se transport via the soil-crop-human pathway in areas with varying Se levels.
• To develop a model correlating dietary Se intake with Se biomarkers (hair, nails, plasma).
• To predict Se nutritional status using these biomarkers.

Main Methods:

• Field and cross-sectional surveys in Loujiaba and Longshui Villages.
• Collection of soil, crop, water, diet, hair, nail, and plasma samples.
• Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for total Se determination.
• Duplicate portion method for dietary intake assessment.
• Correlation and regression analyses to establish biomarker relationships.

Main Results:

• Luojiaba Village showed significantly higher soil Se (total and available) than Longshui Village.
• Dietary Se intake in Luojiaba (150.3 μg/d) was adequate, while Longshui (16.0 μg/d) posed a risk of deficiency.
• Significant positive correlations were found between dietary Se intake and hair, nail, and plasma Se levels.

Conclusions:

• Selenium bioaccumulates in the food chain, with higher levels in high-Se areas.
• Dietary Se intake is a key determinant of human Se nutritional status.
• Hair, nail, and plasma Se biomarkers are reliable indicators for assessing Se nutritional health.