Serum selenium status in a group of 386 volunteers from the Czech Republic Rescue Fire Brigades

The effect of consumption of pork enriched by organic selenium on selenium status and lipid profile in blood serum of consumers

The aim of the research was to evaluate the effect of consumption of selenium-enriched pork on selected health indicators of probands. The intake of feed mixture with increased organic selenium at the dose of 0.3 mg.kg^-1 probably increases selenium concentration in MSM (musculus semimembranosus). In the pork enriched with organic selenium, the concentration was higher by 1.045 ± 0.10 mg.kg^-1 compared with the control group 0.701 ± 0.05 mg.kg^-1 at significance P < 0.001. Sixteen participants in the experiment were represented by 8 men at the average age of 41.5 ± 11.9 years and 8 women at the average age of 41.4 ± 7.9 years. All the probands consumed meat enriched with selenium three times a week during one month. By consumption of the enriched pork, there was an increase of the selenium concentration in blood serum of probands traced with selenium increase from 73.19 ± 15.68 μg.L^-1 to 73.73 ± 15.13 μg.L^-1 (P > 0.05). From the results we can see that consumption of enriched pork with selenium was significantly manifested in lowering of total cholesterol levels, which was associated with LDL cholesterol lowering (P < 0.05). Differences among the HDL cholesterol and triglycerides samples were not significant.

Trace elements in the blood of institutionalized elderly in the Czech Republic

Whole blood selenium, copper, zinc and manganese concentrations of 197 institutionalized senior citizens (46 males, 151 females) aged 61-100 years (mean age 83.6 years) were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry from two localities in the Czech Republic (Prague and Teplice) from 2009 through 2011. Geometric means (GM) of whole blood selenium (B-Se), copper (B-Cu), zinc (B-Zn) and manganese (B-Mn) levels were 74.0 μg/l, 941.0 μg/l, 5898.0 μg/l and 10.9 μg/l, respectively. Gender-related differences were found with significantly higher B-Cu levels in women and significantly higher B-Zn levels in men. The percentage of seniors with B-Se levels lower than 56 μg/l (which is equivalent to the critical value of 45 μg/l of Se in serum (S-Se)) was 8.6%. A negative correlation between age and B-Se levels was found. B-Zn positively correlated with serum albumin and prealbumin whereas a negative correlation between age and B-Zn was observed. Seniors with diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis had higher B-Cu and B-Mn levels, respectively, than those without these diagnoses. The elderly from Prague had significantly higher B-Mn concentrations than those from Teplice. We found no evidence of serious essential elements deficiencies or excesses in the seniors who participated in this study.