Serum selenium concentrations and dietary selenium intake of New Zealand children aged 5–14 years

Abstract

Serum Se concentrations and dietary Se intakes have been determined in relation to age, sex, ethnicity, region and index of deprivation in a nationally representative sample of New Zealand children aged 5–14 years from the 2002 National Children's Nutrition Survey. Dietary intake was assessed from computer-assisted, multiple-pass 24 h diet recall interviews (n3275). Serum Se concentrations were obtained from a subset of urban-based children (n1547). Mean (95 % CI) serum Se concentration in children was 0·96 (0·93, 1·00) μmol/l. Males (1·00 μmol/l) had higher serum Se levels than females (0·93 μmol/l;P = 0·027). Mäori children had lower serum Se than Pacific Islands children (P = 0·038) and New Zealand European and Other children (P = 0·005). Children in the Upper North Island (1·06 μmol/l) had higher mean serum Se values than those in the Lower North Island (0·98 μmol/l,P < 0·0005) and South Island (0·79 μmol/l,P < 0·0005), and serum Se in the Lower North Island was higher than that in the South Island (P < 0·0005). Mean dietary Se intake was 36 (34, 37) μg/d. The intakes of children aged 5–6 years (31 μg/d) were lower than those of children aged 7–10 and 11–14 years (35 and 38 μg/d, respectively;P < 0·00 005) and the intakes of 7–10-year-olds were lower than those of 11–14-year-olds (P = 0·002). Serum Se was associated with dietary Se after adjusting for all variables, including region (P = 0·006). The Se status of our children falls in the middle of the international range of serum Se concentrations, but that for children in the South Island is among the lowest values reported and may be a cause for concern.

Hair Selenium Levels of School Children in Kashin–Beck Disease Endemic Areas in Tibet, China

“…Moreover, our findings were similar with those based on a national report of biochemical indicators of diet and nutrition in the USA (1999)(2000)(2001)(2002), where the blood Se concentration in boys was higher than that in girls [47]. Consistent observations have been documented in children in New Zealand (5-14 years old) and Slovakia (11-18 years old) [48,49]. Moreover, in Ganji of Iran, the hair Se levels were significantly lower in women than in men [50].…”

Selenium, Selenoprotein Genes and Crohn’s Disease in a Case-Control Population from Auckland, New Zealand

“…New Zealand has one of the highest incidence rates of IBD in the world and more research is necessary to identify further risk factors for addressing public health needs. The selenium status of children and adults in parts of New Zealand is amongst the lowest (an intake of 31–38 µg/day dependent on age group) in the world [10,11] and there is an urgent need to reduce the risk of possible selenium deficiency. Due to the low selenium status and high incidence rates of CD in New Zealand [12], the relationship between selenium status and CD is of interest.…”

“…Selenium intake in New Zealand has increased due to a higher importation of Australian wheat and cereal products and an increased selenium supplementation in animal feed in New Zealand [15]. However, selenium status in New Zealand is still considered to be marginal and may not be adequate for the full activity and protective effects of selenoproteins [11,16]. Due to the wide variability in the selenium content of different foods; the huge range of selenium intake from one geographical region to another; and lifestyle factors such as smoking and intense exercise which may increase selenium requirements, the consequence for health needs to be established on an individual basis.…”

Selenium status in a group of schoolchildren from the region of Madrid, Spain

“…The mean selenium intake recorded was greater than that reported by Thomson et al . () for New Zealand children aged 5–14 years (91 μg day −1 compared to 36 μg day −1 ). However, as in the present study, the Total Diet Study of the Food and Drug Administration (1982 and 1991) showed that the mean selenium intake of children and adults in the USA was much higher than the recommended daily intake (RDI) for the different age groups.…”