Selenium status and the effect of organic and inorganic selenium supplementation in a group of elderly people in Denmark

The selenium status of 57 elderly people (> or = 65 years) has been investigated on the basis of selenium concentration in serum, whole blood and erythrocytes and on the basis of the activity of the selenium-dependent enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) in erythrocytes and plasma. Thirty-six elderly subjects participated in a 4-month trial of supplementation: 12 subjects were supplemented with 125 micrograms organic selenium, 12 subjects were supplemented with 125 micrograms inorganic selenium and 12 subjects participated as controls. The results showed that the selenium status of the elderly people was not significantly lower than that of younger people (p > 0.05). The effect of organic and inorganic selenium on the activity of GSH-px in plasma and erythrocytes showed a nearly identical increase (25-35%) during the period of supplementation. The effect of inorganic selenium supplementation caused a 30% increase in selenium concentration in plasma and erythrocytes which stabilized after 4 weeks. The effect of organic selenium supplementation on selenium concentration in plasma and erythrocytes showed an increase of up to 100% and 120% during the period of supplementation.