Relationship between Serum Selenium Concentrations and Smoking Habits in Japanese Males

Abstract

Correlations between serum selenium (Se) concentrations and smoking habits in Japanese males were investigated with special attention to age and daily cigarette consumption. Sera were collected from 307 men (22-87 years old) of the seaside residents in Fukui Pref. Japan, who were participants of health examination held in Aug.-Sept. 1986. Serum Se concentrations were determined by spectrofluorometry. The results are as follows.

1) Although there was no significant correlation between the serum Se concentrations and age for non-smokers (r= -0.139, N=141), significant correlations were observed for 1-20 cigarettes/day smokers (r= -0.365, N=117, p<0.001) and 21 or more cigaretts/day smokers (r= -0.633, N=49, p<0.001), respectively.

2) There was no significant difference in the serum Se levels between the smokers and the non-smokers of 22-39 years, whereas significantly lower Se levels were observed in the smokers of 40 years or older.

3) A negative dose-response relationship was also observed between daily cigarette consumption and the serum Se levels in the 7th decade smokers. These results indicate that smoking habits could have more lowering effect on the serum Se levels in older men than in younger men.