Abstract

Selenium status of inhabitants of the Czech Republic is very low according to studies in the 1990s, especially in southern parts of the republic. It is documented in more regions that intake of Se by seniors is lower then by adults in working age. Object of this study was to assess daily Se intake by seniors of South Bohemia. Time-dependent increase of urine Se concentrations in the course of the long-term Se supplementation by various Se species is presented in the second part of the study. 495 analyses of Se in the urine of seniors living in South Bohemia were used for Se intake calculation by the use of both Se concentration and Se daily excretion. Urine Se was detected by fluorimetry as complex with 2,3-diaminonaphtalene after wet ashing, SRM 3149 (selenium- NIST) was used for calibration, and Lyphocheck urine metal control (human) was used for quality assurance. Calculated daily Se intake was under 25 mg (24 mg and 21.5 mg, resp.). After supplementation by 100 mg of both inorganic and organically bound Se daily, concentration of Se in urine as well as its excretion increased rapidly to double in a fortnight and reached the peak in 6 months with a small decrease in the course of the next 6 months. In conclusion, Se intake of South Bohemia seniors is very low and part of them does not reach even WHO basal requirements. Unsatisfactory Se status may be changed in a short time by the use of dietary Se supplements.

Author Details

Authors

• J. Kvicala¹
• V. Zamrazil¹
• J. Nemecek¹
• M. Anke²

Departments

• ¹ Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czech Republic and
• ² Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany

Address

Dr. J. Kvicala
Institute of Endocrinology, Narodni 8, 11694 Praha 1, Czech Republic
Email: [email protected]

Citation