No abstract

No abstract

Selenium (Se) is a trace mineral and component of selenoproteins known to be crucial for immune and thyroid function and reproduction (1) . Better Se status has also been linked to lower mortality, slower cognitive decline, reduced viral virulence and lower cancer risk (1) . Se status in the UK is believed to be low (1) . This study used data collected in the D-FINES (Vitamin D, Food Intake, Nutrition and Exposure to Sunlight in Southern England) study to investigate the Se intake of UK women by ethnicity and season. Eighteen-to eightyyear-old Caucasian (mean age = 49 years, n 248) and South Asian (mean age = 50 years, n 55) women completed a 4-d diet diary (including one weekend day) in summer, autumn, winter and spring (June 2006-May 2007. Food-portion size photographs were included to aid participant estimation. Data were analysed using Win Diets 2005.Median Se intakes in Caucasians were 37, 38, 39 and 37 mg/d in summer, autumn, winter and spring, respectively. Median intakes for South Asians in summer, autumn, winter and spring were 35, 30, 36 and 32 mg/d. The figures show that 80-90% of Caucasians and 83-95 % of South Asians did not meet the RNI (60 mg/d) in any season and, more worryingly, 60 % of Caucasians and 60-70% of South Asians did not meet the LRNI (40 mg/d). While there was little seasonal change in Caucasian intakes, the South Asians showed a trend for poorer intake in autumn than in the other seasons. There was little difference in the percentage of women not achieving the LRNI or RNI by ethnicity, but there was a trend for Asians to be slightly less likely to achieve them in all seasons. Data were energy adjusted to allow for differing nutrient requirements. As the data were skewed, log transformation was performed to allow analysis by parametric methods. Independent samples T-tests showed statistically significant (P £ 0.05) differences in energyadjusted Se intakes in autumn (t = 2.515, P = 0.012) by ethnicity, with South Asian women having a significantly lower intake. However, no difference was found in summer, winter or spring. Selenium intake (µg/d) in Less than LRNIThis study highlights the poor Se intakes in UK women and adds novel information about Se intake by season. While overall we found no clear evidence of an ethnic or seasonal difference in Se intake, there was a trend for lower Se intakes in South Asian than in Caucasian women, especially in the autumn. This seasonal trend reflects the findings of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey in elderly people where the lowest Se status was found in autumn (2) . Limitations of the study include the acknowledged difficulty in precisely measuring food intake and the high variability in the Se content of foods, which limits the accuracy of the food-composition database used. These results should ideally be confirmed by the measurement of plasma Se. Our finding that 60-70% of the women did not meet the LRNI for Se is a matter of public-health concern, given the association between low Se status and a range of chronic health conditions (1)...

No abstract

There are clear associations between vitamin D deficiency and insulin resistance, b-cell dysfunction and reduced insulin secretion. There are also data linking vitamin D 'insufficiency' as a risk factor for metabolic syndrome, hypertension and diabetes, all of which may clarify its association with increased CVD. These associations are particularly apparent in Asian groups and may underlie the considerable predisposition to CVD in this group. Poor vitamin D status may hence be associated with raised total cholesterol and inversely related to the serum concentration of cardio-protective HDL, although limited data on UK populations are available.The D-FINES Study is currently investigating the interaction between diet and sunlight exposure on vitamin D status in Caucasian and Asian women aged 19-70 (mean 48.0 (SD 14.3)) years living in southern England. Fasted blood samples were collected at three-monthly intervals from summer 2006 to spring 2007 from a total of 279 Caucasian and ninety-four Asian women and dietary intake was assessed during these periods using 4 d estimated food records. Women were recruited through general practice or through Asian community networks in Woking, Kingston and Thornton Health. The aim of the present subsidiary study was to examine the relationship between summer vitamin D status and serum lipid profiles (serum TAG and HDL) and insulin. As shown in the Table, the mean serum 25-OHD level was significantly lower in Asian women compared with Caucasian women (P < 0.0001). The mean BMI was 26.0 (SD 4.77) kg/m 2 for Caucasian women and 27.8 (SD 5.70) kg/m 2 for Asian women. There was a higher TAG in Asian women compared with Caucasian women (P < 0.001) and higher HDL in Caucasian women than in Asian women (P < 0.002). Insulin levels were significantly higher in the Asian women (P < 0.001). Significant negative correlations were found between markers of cardiovascular health and 25OHD status in all groups combined and then specifically in the Caucasian women but not in the Asian women. Blunting of 25OHD levels, i.e. severe vitamin D deficiency, has been previously noted in Asian women with having a 25OHD level of < 25 nmol/l (depending on seasons) (1) and may explain the lack of association between 25OHD and markers of cardiovascular health. The present findings are a cause for concern and warrant further investigation.