title: [Serum selenium levels in children and adolescents in selected regions in Slovakia].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a limited number of data concerning blood serum selenium levels in children and adolescents in the Slovak Republic.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to access blood serum selenium levels in 102 healthy children (11-14 y) and 122 adolescents (15-18 y) from two regions: The district of Cadca and Modra--Pezinok area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum selenium was determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometric method using Pd as a matrix modifier.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (+/- SD) serum selenium concentration was 0.644 +/- 0.154 mumol/l in children and 0.730 +/- 0.175 mumol/l in adolescents. A large proportion of the individuals (28.43% in the children group, vs 14.05% in adolescent group) exhibited serum selenium levels below 0.57 mumol/l (45 micrograms/l). A significant correlation between serum selenium concentration and age (p < 0.001) was found. The correlation between serum selenium concentration and sex was not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In comparison with serum selenium levels in children and adolescents from other countries, the concentration of serum selenium in Slovak children and adolescents is relatively low. This differences could probably be attributed to the selenium content in the soil and to the lower average daily selenium intake via food. (Tab. 5, Fig. 2, Ref. 32).
authors.affiliation: Výskumný ústav výzivy v Bratislave, Slovakia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brtková
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Béderová
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Magálová
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Babinská
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*; D018154:Slovakia
chemical_list: D012643:Selenium