Our findings do not support an association between total mercury exposure and the risk of coronary heart disease, but a weak relation cannot be ruled out.

Our results support earlier findings that higher selenium intakes may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Further prospective studies and randomized trials of this relationship should be conducted.

Background:In a recent randomized intervention trial, the risk of prostate cancer for men receiving a daily supplement of 200 µg selenium was one third of that for men receiving placebo. By use of a nested case-control design within a prospective study, i.e., the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, we investigated the association between risk of prostate cancer and prediagnostic level of selenium in toenails, a measure of long-term selenium intake. Methods: In 1986, 51 529 male health professionals aged 40-75 years responded to a mailed questionnaire to form the prospective study. In 1987, 33 737 cohort members provided toenail clippings. In 1988, 1990, 1992, and 1994, follow-up questionnaires were mailed. From 1989 through 1994, 181 new cases of advanced prostate cancer were reported. Case and control subjects were matched by age, smoking status, and month of toenail return. Selenium levels were determined by neutron activation. All P values are twosided. Results: The selenium level in toenails varied substantially among men, with quintile medians ranging from 0.66 to 1.14 µg/g for control subjects. When matched case-control data were analyzed, higher selenium levels were associated with a reduced risk of advanced prostate cancer (odds ratio [OR] for comparison of highest to lowest quintile = 0.49; 95% confidence in-terval [CI] = 0.25-0.96; P for trend = .11). After additionally controlling for family history of prostate cancer, body mass index, calcium intake, lycopene intake, saturated fat intake, vasectomy, and geographical region, the OR was 0.35 (95% CI = 0.16-0.78; P for trend = .03). Conclusions: Our results support earlier findings that higher selenium intakes may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Further prospective studies and randomized trials of this relationship should be conducted. [J Natl Cancer Inst 1998;90:1219-24]

Selenium is a trace mineral that plays a role in antioxidant defenses as a component of glutathione peroxidase. Epidemiologic findings on the relation of selenium status to risk of heart disease are inconsistent. Therefore, the authors investigated prospectively the association between toenail selenium levels and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in a case-control study nested within the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Between 1987 and 1992, 470 CHD cases were newly diagnosed. A control matched to each case on age, smoking status, and date of toenail return was chosen. Toenail selenium levels analyzed by neutron activation were not associated with risk of total CHD after adjustment for age and smoking and other CHD risk factors (highest quintile vs. lowest: odds ratio (OR) = 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.55, 1.32; p-trend = 0.75). Selenium level was inversely associated with risk of nonfatal myocardial infarction for extreme quintiles (OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.31, 0.93; p-trend = 0.07), was less so for fatal CHD (OR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.39, 1.60; p-trend = 0.61), and was directly associated with coronary revascularization procedures (OR = 2.38, 95% CI: 1.11, 5.09; p-trend = 0.02). Although these findings suggest no overall relation between selenium status and CHD, a specific protective role for myocardial infarction cannot be excluded.

Objectives: Stunting is a significant cause of poor cognitive performance and lower school achievement. Stunting is observed among preschool children in several areas in Africa; however, not all children are affected, and children with and without stunting are seen in the same communities. Therefore, this study aimed to identify nutritional and other factors that prevent stunting that may exist in local communities. Study design: This is a prospective cohort study. Methods: Data were extracted from the Health and Demographic Surveillance System conducted in Kwale County, Kenya. The cohort consisted of all households with children less than five years old, within a radius of 2.2 km from a local health centre. A dietary pattern (DP) survey with a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was conducted on caretakers of children who were voluntary participated from the cohort between June 2012 and August 2012. Using cluster analysis, the children were assigned to a DP group. Logistic regression analysis was applied to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) of DPs for stunting controlling for other factors. Results: In total, 402 children were included in the analysis. By cluster analysis, three DPs were identified: protein-rich DP; traditional DP; and traditional DP complemented by breastfeeding. The aOR of a child becoming stunted from a normal height during the study period among children who received a traditional DP compared with those who had a protein-rich DP was 2.78 (95% confidence interval [