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Blood serum selenium in the province of Merida, Venezuela, related to sex, cancer incidence and soil selenium content

Abstract:

Blood serum selenium levels were measured in healthy subjects of six districts located throughout the province of Merida, Venezuela. There were either high (87-115 μg/L) or low (58-72 μg/L) serum selenium-containing districts. Serum selenium in males from three districts were statistically lower (p < 0.001) than in females. There was a general tendency for serum selenium to increase with age. On the average, a reduction in cancer was observed in the districts with high serum selenium content. Further, serum selenium was lower in male patients from the Merida district with cancer disease. Association between selenium in soil and in the blood serum of healthy subjects has been observed.