title: Serum selenium levels in healthy women in Tabriz, Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Selenium is of fundamental importance to human health, and selenium deficiency is associated with disease conditions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate the serum level of selenium in women of childbearing age and postmenopausal women living in Tabriz, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, 60 healthy women of childbearing age and 60 healthy postmenopausal women were studied with the use of biochemical methods (measurement of serum selenium by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry), anthropometric measurements (weight and height), and interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average serum selenium was 76.67 +/- 17.98 microg/L (range, 42.00 to 166.61 microg/L). This level was lower than those reported in other provinces of Iran and some other countries. Sixty-nine women (57.5%) had serum selenium concentrations under 80 microg/L. There was no significant difference in selenium level between the two groups of women. Serum selenium level did not vary with age and body mass index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some Iranian women are of borderline selenium status and as a consequence are more susceptible to selenium-deficiency diseases. There is a need for community-based programs to encourage people to increase consumption of selenium-rich sources, such as marine foods.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Nutritional Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. rafrafm@tbzmed.ac.ir
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rafraf
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mahdavi
authors.forename: Mohamad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Rashidi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency*; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic / Q000379:methods; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D012643:Selenium