title: Selenium levels of Estonians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study is to sum up the dietary selenium intake of the Estonian people according to the serum selenium concentrations.
  
  
  METHODS
  This research compiles the information published in the literature about the levels of selenium in the serum of the Estonian people. We compare these results with the findings obtained from the analyses of serum samples gathered by us in the 1990s in Estonia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The selenium concentration in sera of 404 Estonians ranged from 26 to 116 microg/l; the mean was 75 microg/l. The selenium contents of Estonians were at a similar level as reported for Finns before the selenium supplementation of fertilizers carried out in Finland in 1984.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In view of the selenium concentration in the sera, we suggest that the dietary selenium intake among the Estonian people might be scarce, and Estonian authorities should consider in their nutrition policies the possible low intake of selenium of Estonians.
authors.affiliation: Finnish Forest Research Institute, Vantaa, Finland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rauhamaa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kantola
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viitak
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaasik
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mussalo-Rauhamaa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004957:Estonia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012643:Selenium