title: Selenium levels and glutathione peroxidase activities in blood in an andean high-altitude population.
abstract: Selenium (Se) levels in blood (whole blood, erythrocytes and serum) and blood glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity were investigated in people living at high altitude in Bolivia (4,000 m above sea level). These parameters were compared to those of people living at low altitude (300 m above sea level). The Se levels in whole blood of the high-altitude subjects did not differ significantly from those of the low-altitude subjects. However, the Se levels in erythrocytes were significantly lower in the high-altitude subjects than in the low-altitude subjects, whereas serum Se levels were higher in the high-altitude subjects than in the low-altitude subjects. GSH-Px activity (Unit/g Hb) was significantly lower in the high-altitude subjects than in the low-altitude subjects. The mean corpuscular Hb concentration (MCHC), an indicator of the age of erythrocytes, in the high-altitude subjects was significantly higher than in the low-altitude subjects. These results show that the GSH-Px activity in the blood of the high-altitude subjects is relatively low. This may be due to their aged erythrocytes and/or to relatively low Se intake in the high-altitude population compared with low-altitude population.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D001838:Bolivia; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood*; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D012643:Selenium