Abstract
Plasma, erythrocyte and urine selenium concentrations of 104 healthy male employees of companies in Osaka Prefecture were determined fluorometrically, and their intake of selenium-rich foods (bread, eggs, meat and fish), smoking habits, and alcohol consumption were surveyed by means of a simplified questionnaire. Geometric mean selenium concentrations were as follows: plasma, 110ng/ml; erythrocytes, 261ng/ml; urine, 27μg/g creatinine. Erythrocyte selenium concentrations were significantly correlated with weekly fish intake (rs=0.479, p<0.001). Weekly fish intake was found to be the unique factor associated with variations in erythrocyte selenium concentration on the basis of multiple regression amlysis using weekly intake of selenium-rich foods, age, smoking habits, alcohol consumption and Broca index as variables. Urinary selenium concentration was significantly correlated with intake of selenium-rich foods at breakfast on the day of urine sampling and at supper on the preceding day (r=0.248, p<0.01). Intake prior to urine sampling was found to be the unique factor associated with variations in urinary selenium concentration based on multiple regression analysis. High intake of selenium-rich foods, particularly bread, eggs and meat, before blood collection was associated with higher plasma selenium concentrations. Multiple regression analysis showed that age and alcohol consumption were also associated with plasma selenium concentration. Serum albumin, negatively correlated with age, was significantly correlated with plasma seleniumc concentration (r=0.236, p<0.05). These results indicate that 1) habitual fish intake is the main factor contributing to erythrocyte selenium concentrations, 2) urinary selenium concentration is strongly associated with selenium intake before the urine sampling, 3) plasma selenium concentration is influenced not only by selenium intake before blood sampling but by age and alcohol consumption.
