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Selenium status of healthy Turkish children
K Mengübaş1, N A Diab, G Gökmen
1Department of Chemistry, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Selenium levels in Turkish children increase with age, with girls showing higher concentrations than boys. This study highlights potential marginal selenium deficiency in this population.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Selenium is an essential trace element crucial for various physiological functions.
- Understanding selenium status in children is vital for assessing nutritional health and preventing deficiency-related diseases.
- Previous research indicates geographical variations in selenium levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine selenium concentrations in blood plasma, red blood cells, and hair of healthy Turkish children.
- To investigate the relationship between age, sex, and selenium levels in pediatric populations.
- To evaluate the selenium status of Turkish children in comparison to international benchmarks.
Main Methods:
- Hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry was employed for selenium analysis.
- Blood plasma, red blood cells, and hair samples were collected from 61 healthy children aged 0-14 years.
- Statistical analyses were performed to assess correlations and significant differences.
Main Results:
- Selenium concentrations increased with age across all measured matrices (plasma, red blood cells, hair).
- Significant positive correlations were observed between selenium levels in plasma, erythrocytes, and hair.
- Girls exhibited significantly higher erythrocyte selenium concentrations (71 ± 9 ng/mL) compared to boys (65 ± 10 ng/mL).
Conclusions:
- The selenium status of Turkish children appears lower than reported in other populations, suggesting a risk of marginal selenium deficiency.
- Age and sex are significant factors influencing selenium levels in children.
- Further research is recommended across diverse regions of Turkey and in various disease states to fully understand selenium's role.
Abstract:
Selenium concentrations, in blood plasma, red blood cells, hair of 61 healthy children, ages 0-14 yr, were determined using hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry. Starting from late lactation period, selenium concentrations in all these matrices were found to be increasing with age. A good correlation was found between erythrocyte and plasma, hair and plasma, and hair and erythrocyte selenium concentrations. Although plasma, erythrocyte, and hair selenium concentrations of girls seemed to be higher than that of boys (only in erythrocytes), selenium concentrations of girls were found to be significantly (p < 0.002) higher than that of boys, 71 +/- 9 ng/mL, vs 65 +/- 10 ng/mL, respectively. Selenium status of Turkish children is found to be lower than that found in the literature; marginal selenium deficiency could be important in the development of some selenium deficiency related diseases. There is a need for extension of this study to healthy children from different regions in Turkey and to different disease states.