Influence of Selenium on Human Health: Part 1 Sex difference and change of normal values with increasing age

The selenium (Se) concentrations in adult whole blood were determined for 331 healthy subjects living in Nagano Prefecture. Then the Se concentration, the distribution, the physiological value, the relationships to increasing age and coexistent elements (K, Na, Mg, Ca, Fe, Zn) were studied. The mean±standard deviation of Se levels obtained was 157±37 (ng-Se/g-blood) for males, and 156±32 (ng-Se/g-blood) for females. The data showed logarithmic normal distributions in both sexes. The normal range of Se concentration was 100-240 (ng-Se/g-blood). No sex difference in concentration was noticed for any subjects. The concentration for males in their twenties, however, was higher than that for females. Se concentrations in whole blood decreased with increasing age in the ratio of 0.8 (ng-Se/g-blood) to one age. Significant correlations between Se and K, Fe, Ca, Mg, and Zn were noticed.