title: Blood serum selenium in the province of Mérida, Venezuela, related to sex, cancer incidence and soil selenium content.
abstract: Blood serum selenium levels were measured in healthy subjects of six districts located throughout the province of Mérida, Venezuela. There were either high (87-115 micrograms/L) or low (58-72 micrograms/L) serum selenium-containing districts. Serum selenium in males from three districts were statistically significantly lower (p less than 0.001) than in females. There was a general tendency for serum selenium to increase with age. On the average, a reduction in cancer was observed in the districts with high serum selenium content. Further, serum selenium was lower in male patients from the Mérida district with cancer disease. Association between selenium in soil and in the blood serum of healthy subjects has been observed.
authors: Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela.
authors: J L
authors: JL
authors: Burguera
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Burguera
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Gallignani
authors: O M
authors: OM
authors: Alarcón
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Burguera
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D012989:Soil Pollutants; D012643:Selenium