Urinary selenium status of healthy people

Urinary selenium (Se) concentrations (microgram/l of urine and microgram/g of creatinine) and urinary Se excretions (microgram/d and microgram/d.kg of body weight) have been determined in healthy Canarian people. Urinary Se status was relatively low and similar to those data published from European regions. Females excreted daily significantly (P = 0.005) higher amounts of Se per kg of body weight in urine than males. An increase of daily urinary Se excretion was observed up to 30 years of age. Children (< 10 years old) had daily urinary Se excretion per kg of body weight higher than persons with age > 10 years old. Both units of Se excretion, microgram/d and microgram/d.kg, increased or decreased respectively with weight and height of the individuals. Food habits such as consumption of rich protein or rich fibre food, and drinking alcohol or coffee as well as smoking do not seem to influence the urinary Se status. Depletion of daily urinary Se excretion was observed with the increase of physical exercise. Unit of concentration (microgram/g of creatinine) is a more adequate indicator of the urinary Se excretion than the unit microgram/l.