title: Urinary selenium concentrations in heroin abusers.
abstract: Urinary selenium (Se) concentrations (micrograms Se/l and microgram Se/g creatinine) have been determined in heroin abusers and in healthy controls. Heroin abusers showed significantly (P < 0.050) lower urinary Se concentrations (microgram Se/l and microgram Se/g creatinine) than healthy controls. The decrease of the urinary Se concentration (microgram Se/g creatinine) observed with the increase in age of heroin abusers may be due to the higher exposure to heroin with increased age. No significant differences (P > 0.100) of urinary Se concentrations (both as microgram Se/l and microgram Se/g creatinine) are observed between heroin abusers during methadone treatment and heroin abusers who have stopped taking the drug, with respect to healthy controls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Food Science and Toxicology, University of La Laguna, Spain.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Rodríguez Rodríguez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanz Alaejos
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Díaz Romero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D003932:Heroin; D006801:Humans; D008691:Methadone / Q000494:pharmacology; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000652:urine*; D014556:Urine
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies; D003932:Heroin; D003404:Creatinine; D012643:Selenium; D008691:Methadone