Association of abdominal circumference with serum nitric oxide concentration in healthy population

Objectives We determined the relationship between abdominal circumference and the concentration of nitric oxide (NO), an endothelial cell product known to play an important role in the regulation of vascular tone and thrombocyte activations. Methods Subjects were 177 men and 339 women aged 40 or over who were free from a history of diabetes or malignancy. Analysis of covariance was applied to examine the gender-specific and smoking-status-specific associations of abdominal fat volume measured as waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, and waist-to-stature ratio, with serum NO level represented by the concentration of NO metabolites (NOx; nitrate plus nitrite). Results Although men showed no statistical association between abdominal fat accumulation and NOx concentration, abdominal adiposity seemed to inversely affect the serum NOx concentration of never- and current-smoking women. Conclusion Our results suggest that a reduction in NO bioactivity occurs with abdominal fat accumulation in women. The underlying biological mechanism might involve adipocytokines secreted from visceral fat, but is yet to be elucidated.     

Racial differences in serum selenium concentration: analysis of US population data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Lower intake of the essential trace element selenium may be a risk factor for prostate cancer and other cancers. In the United States, many racial disparities in cancer incidence, such as the 61% higher incidence of prostate cancer among Blacks relative to Whites, remain unexplained. Using data from a large, nationally representative survey, the authors explored Black/White differences in serum selenium concentration. Mean serum selenium concentrations, both crude and adjusted for known predictors of serum selenium, were determined for 10,779 Black and White males and females aged >or=12 years who participated in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994). Crude mean serum selenium concentrations were 126.35 ng/ml for Whites and 118.76 ng/ml (approximately 6% lower) for Blacks. Adjustment for known serum selenium predictors, including a proxy for residence at the county level, reduced the racial disparity, although concentrations remained approximately 3% lower in Blacks than in Whites of both sexes (p<0.0001). The observation that Blacks had lower unadjusted and adjusted serum selenium concentrations relative to Whites is intriguing, given the racial disparity in incidence of prostate cancer and other cancers.     

Low serum folic acid levels in a nursing home population: a clinical experience.

Four hundred fifty-five residents of the Wisconsin Veterans Home had fasting serum specimens obtained for folic acid as part of standard practice. Twenty-nine percent were taking folic acid supplements. Six percent (n = 28) were taking phenytoin, a folate antagonist. No resident receiving a folate supplement (400 mcg/day) had a low serum folic acid level. This finding may be important for practitioners selecting a dose of folic acid for nursing home patients. Of the 325 residents not receiving a folate supplement, nine (3%) had low folic acid levels (< 2.5 ng/mL). Two of the nine were receiving phenytoin. Five were characterized by staff as eating well. As low serum levels are preventable with a multivitamin, we believe that supplementation with a multivitamin containing 400 mcg folic acid/day should be considered in nursing home residents.     

Maternal diet and selenium concentration in human milk from an Italian population

Background

Low selenium (Se) status is associated with several diseases. International organizations have proposed intakes of Se for general populations, including infants. Studies of the association of Se concentration in breast milk and maternal diet have yielded inconsistent results. We evaluated the relation between the intake of food items during pregnancy and Se concentration in human milk after delivery and compared infant intake of Se from breast milk with the recommended intakes.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was part of the baseline assessment of a prospective cohort of Italian mother–child pairs enrolled in 1999–2001. Se concentration was measured in the milk of 100 women included in the cohort and correlated with the intake of food items during pregnancy and lactation as reported in a food frequency questionnaire.

Results

Among foods consumed in pregnancy, only eggs had a positive, but weak, correlation with Se concentration in milk (r = 0.20, P = 0.04). Fish intake during lactation was also weakly correlated with Se in milk (r = 0.21, P = 0.04). Se content of breast milk in our population was lower than that noted in other international studies; however, very few children who were exclusively breastfed were estimated not to have met the recommended Se intake.

Conclusions

Future research should aim to verify whether infants in this part of Italy still meet the recommended nutrient intake of Se and to assess the influence of the concurrent diet of lactating mothers on the Se content of their milk.Key words: selenium, human milk, maternal diet     

Reference values for serum zinc and selenium of French healthy children

Age — and sex — specific reference intervals derived from a healthy pediatric population are presented for zinc, selenium and related analytes in serum. No strong correlations were found between age, sex and trace elements in serum. Serum variables were discussed to assess their ability as biochemical indicators of micronutrient status in the field of biological epidemiology.     

Dietary habits of Greek adults and serum total selenium concentration: the ATTICA study

Purpose  

The trace element selenium is an essential micronutrient for human health, and its low levels in serum are implicated in the pathogenesis of several chronic diseases. The determination of total serum selenium levels may contribute to the assessment of the health status of all populations. Since the serum selenium levels are highly affected by diet, we assessed its association with the dietary habits of Greek adults.     

Sex as a factor in levels of serum ascorbic acid in a healthy elderly population

To investigate gender difference in serum ascorbic acid levels in healthy elderly, its status was studied in 175 free-living and healthy elderly people aged 63-81, who were not using ascorbic acid supplement. Both mean dietary ascorbic acid intake (3.2 +/- 1.3 mg/kg of body weight/day) and its serum concentration (1.11 +/- 0.23 mg/100 ml) for females (n = 96) were significantly higher than for males (2.7 +/- 1.1 mg/kg/day and 0.91 +/- 0.30 mg/100 ml; n = 79). It was estimated that intakes needed to maintain a serum ascorbic acid concentration of 1.0 mg/100 ml would be about 2 mg/kg of body weight/day for females and about 3 mg/kg/day for males. In this population, dietary ascorbic acid intake was the most important predictor of its serum concentration, but sex was also significantly related to it, accounting about 7% of its total variation.     

Low serum cholesterol concentration and risk of suicide

Recent reports have suggested a link between low serum total cholesterol and risk of death from suicide. We examined this association using participants in the 1970-1972 Nutrition Canada Survey. We determined the mortality experience of Nutrition Canada Survey participants older than 11 years of age at baseline through 1993 by way of record linkage to the Canadian National Mortality Database. The relation between low serum total cholesterol and mortality from suicide was assessed using a stratified analysis (N = 11,554). There were 27 deaths due to suicide. Adjusting for age and sex, we found that those in the lowest quartile of serum total cholesterol concentration (<4.27 mmol/liter) had more than six times the risk of committing suicide (rate ratio = 6.39; 95% confidence interval = 1.27-32.1) as did subjects in the highest quartile (>5.77 mmol/liter). Increased rate ratios of 2.95 and 1.94 were observed for the second and third quartiles, respectively. The effect persisted after the exclusion from the analysis of the first 5 years of follow-up and after the removal of those who were unemployed or who had been treated for depression. These data indicate that low serum total cholesterol level is associated with an increased risk of suicide.     

Maternal selenium status in Slovenia and its impact on the selenium concentration of umbilical cord serum and colostrum

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess serum selenium (Se) level of Slovenian mothers at birth and to elucidate its impact on the Se content of umbilical cord serum of their newborns and of that of colostrum. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In sera of 20 Slovenian mothers at delivery and in the corresponding umbilical cord sera of their newborns Se concentrations were determined by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-AAS). In addition Se levels in 10 healthy female blood donors were determined. Colostrum samples of 18 mothers collected on the second and third day post partum were also investigated for their Se content. RESULTS: Serum Se concentrations of mothers showed to be 62+/-15 microg/l. Umbilical cord sera had 34+/-7 microg/l, which amounts to 55% of the maternal content. Concentrations of Se in colostrum ranged from 17 to 48 microg/l with a mean of 29+/-10 microg/l. In the sera of female blood donors the mean was 66+/-15 microg/l. A significant correlation (P<0.002) between the Se content of maternal and umbilical sera could be established. No significant correlation was found between maternal serum Se concentration and that of colostrum. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that dietary Se intake for pregnant women in Slovenia is borderline.     

Supplementation with wheat selenium induces a dose-dependent response in serum and urine of a Se-replete population.

In spite of a rather modest dietary intake of selenium (80 micrograms/10 MJ), Norwegian serum Se levels are among the highest in Europe. As part of an ongoing study of Se bioavailability, effects of different doses of wheat Se were investigated in eighteen healthy, Norwegian women. The participants were given Se-rich bread providing 100, 200 and 300 micrograms Se daily for 6 weeks. About 50% of the Se intake was excreted in the urine by week 6, compared with 67% before the intervention started. Serum Se increased by 20, 37 and 53 micrograms/l respectively, in the three group (P less than 0.001). The blood response and renal clearance results compare well with data obtained from less Se-replete populations, and support the hypothesis that selenomethionine from the diet is incorporated into a non-specific amino acid pool. Our study indicates that the intake of wheat Se is the main determinant of blood Se levels in Norway.     

Classification of thyroid gland disease on the basis of selenium concentration in serum

The aim of this study was to estimate the concentration of total selenium in serum women with thyroid gland disease. Selenium was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry using the hydride generation method (HG-AAS). Research was determined in 94 patients with thyroid gland disease and in 28 healthy controls. Selenium concentration of serum was variously in patients than in control group and patients with different thyroid gland diseases. Concentration in control group was 0.06231 microg/ml, in goitre group--0.05612 microg/ml, in hyperthyroidism--0.07149 microg/ml and in hypothyroidism--0.09088 microg/ml.     

Aflatoxin levels in sera of healthy first time rural blood donors: preliminary report

Serum levels of aflatoxin B1, B2, G1 and G2 in 20 farmers (first time blood donors at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria) were determined and compared with 15 patients of varied diagnoses. 25% of the farmers had levels of B1 above 0 · 2μg per ml and correspondingly the highest values of other aflatoxins. Except for one patient with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who had a B1 level of 0 · 13μg per ml, other sick control values ranged from 0 · 005 to 0 · 091μg per ml. None of the farmers with high levels of B1 had positive serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) as determined by counter-immunoelectrophoresis (CIE). A continuous prospective study may define the role of aflaxtoxin vis-à-vis hepatitis B virus (Hbv) in the pathogenesis of the high incidence of liver disease prevalent the Guinea Savannah North of Nigeria.     

Cardiomyopathy in association with selenium deficiency: a case report

A 46-year-old man developed "dilated cardiomyopathy" probably caused by selenium deficiency while on total parenteral nutrition (TPN). This development emphasizes the role of considering selenium deficiency as a reversible cause of unexplained cardiomyopathy in impaired nutritional state.     

Low serum total calcium concentration as a marker of low serum ionized calcium concentration in critically ill patients receiving specialized nutrition support.

BACKGROUND: The intent of this study was to ascertain to what extent serum total calcium concentration (tCa) <7 mg/dL reflects hypocalcemia (defined by ionized calcium concentration [iCa] of < or = 1.12 mmol/L) in critically ill patients receiving specialized nutrition support. METHODS: Adult patients (> or = 18 years) admitted to the trauma, surgical, medical, burn, or neurosurgical intensive care units, trauma stepdown unit, or progressive care unit and referred to the nutrition support service were retrospectively identified for potential inclusion into the study. Serum chemistries, arterial blood gas measurements, nutrition markers, and serum iCa were simultaneously obtained from each patient approximately 1 day after initiation of specialized nutrition support. Patients with a serum creatinine > or = 2 mg/dL, hyperphosphatemia (> or = 6 mg/dL), severe hypomagnesemia (< or = 1.12 mg/dL), history of metabolic bone disease, or parathyroid disease were excluded from the analysis. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-five patients (91% who had multiple trauma, with a mean Injury Severity Score 31 +/- 13) were enrolled into the study. Specialized nutrition support was initiated 2.8 +/- 1.8 days and calcium status was studied 4.2 +/- 3.1 days after hospital admission, respectively. The majority (28 of 33, or 85%) of patients with a tCa <7 mg/dL were hypocalcemic compared with 33% (22 out of 66) of patients with a tCa of 7-7.4 mg/dL, and 11% (11 of 96) of those with a tCa of 7.5-7.9 mg/dL (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Critically ill patients with a serum total calcium concentration of <7 mg/dL have a high rate of hypocalcemia (iCa < or = 1.12 mmol/L). Hypocalcemia, defined as a serum iCa of < or = 1.12 mmol/L, occurs in 85% of acutely ill patients with a serum tCa <7 mg/dL.     

Low blood selenium levels in patients with cystic fibrosis compared to controls and healthy adults

Frank clinical selenium deficiency has been described in cystic fibrosis (CF), and a relative deficiency has been proposed as contributing to the pathogenesis of the disease. Because of these possibilities, we investigated the relationship between overall nutritional status in CF with measures of selenium nutriture. Fifteen stable outpatients with CF (group I) were compared to 13 age-matched controls (group II) and 27 healthy adults (group III). Whole blood, plasma, and red blood cell selenium levels were reduced by 31%, 29%, and 33%, respectively, in CF patients vs controls (all p less than 0.001). In addition, both groups I and II showed significantly lower blood selenium levels than healthy adults (p less than 0.005). Nutritional assessment revealed CF patients to be undernourished, with significant decreases in serum albumin (p less than 0.025), weight-for-height deficit (p less than 0.01), and weight-for-age (p less than 0.025) vs controls. However, only the triceps skinfold (TSF) measurement correlated significantly with selenium status (r = 0.56: p less than 0.05 for whole blood selenium vs TSF). We conclude, based on the magnitude of decrement in blood selenium, that it is unlikely that selenium plays a significant primary pathogenic role in cystic fibrosis. However, these patients are at high risk for developing clinical selenium deficiencies. The measurement of blood selenium levels using appropriate age-matched normal standards should be mandatory in all CF patients with malnutrition, or in those requiring parenteral nutritional support.     

上海市正常人群血清丁酰胆碱酯酶基因多态性研究

目的 描述上海市正常人群血清丁酰胆碱酯酶基因型的多态分布特点,为其他研究提供基线资料。方法选取100例无有机磷接触、无急慢性肝病史和慢性消耗性疾病的正常人群,应用PCR-RFIP法确定基因型。结果丁酰胆碱酯酶K(BCHE-K)变异的3种基因型UU、UK和KK在正常人群中的频率分别为。74％,25％和1％;等位基因U、K在正常人群中的频率分别为86．5％和13．5％。遗传平衡检验发现其达到Hardy-Weinberg遗传平衡。结论上海市正常人群的BCHE-K位点的多态分布与欧美人群接近。