Low serum selenium is associated with anemia among older adults in the United States

Abstract

Objective: We hypothesized that low serum selenium was associated with anemia in humans. Subjects: A total of 2092 adults aged 65 and older, in the third National Nutrition Examination Survey, Phase 2 (1991-1994) (NHANES III). Methods: Examination of the relationship between serum selenium and hematological indices in NHANES III. Results: Anemia, defined by World Health Organization criteria, was present in 12.9%. Mean serum selenium among non-anemic and anemic adults was 1.60 and 1.51 mmol l À1 (P ¼ 0.0003). The prevalence of anemia among adults in the lowest to highest quartiles of serum selenium was 18.3, 9.5, 9.7 and 6.9%, respectively (P ¼ 0.0005). The proportion of adults in the lowest quartile of selenium among those who were non-anemic or who had anemia due to nutritional causes, chronic inflammation, renal disease or unexplained anemia was 9.9, 27.5, 17.5, 24.0 and 15.4%, respectively. An increase in log e selenium was associated with a reduced risk of anemia (odds ratio per one standard deviation increase 0.75, 95% confidence interval 0.58-0.97, P ¼ 0.03), adjusting for age, race, education, body mass index and chronic diseases. Conclusion: Low serum selenium is independently associated with anemia among older men and women in the United States.

Nrf2 and selenoproteins are essential for maintaining oxidative homeostasis in erythrocytes and protecting against hemolytic anemia

“…29 Subsequent reports have shown that low serum selenium levels may also be associated with anemia in humans. [18][19][20] This study strongly supports the contention that selenium deficiency is a causative factor in anemia and can be explained by the loss of selenoprotein function, which is important for maintaining the oxidative status of erythrocytes. In the absence of selenoproteins, the Nrf2 gene battery inhibits ROS production and lysis, demonstrating the functional overlap of these antioxidant systems in preventing hemolytic anemia.…”

“…14 Selenium/selenoprotein deficiency has previously been shown to compromise the function of various immune cell types, [15][16][17] and low serum selenium has been suggested to contribute to anemia in humans. [18][19][20] Therefore, we were interested in evaluating the relative importance of selenoprotein activity for the homeostasis of hematopoietic lineages. In addition, our previous results showing overlapping but nonredundant function of selenoproteins and Nrf2 in cellular redox maintenance prompted us to consider the interaction of these 2 antioxidant systems.…”

Prevalence and risk factors of micronutrient deficiencies pre- and post-antiretroviral therapy (ART) among a diverse multicountry cohort of HIV-infected adults

“…Serum retinol (vitamin A), α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene and α-tocopherol (vitamin E) were measured using HPLC as previously described (8). A Perkins-Elmer AAnalyst 600 graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer was used to measure serum selenium concentrations (9). Retinol, α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, α-tocopherol, selenium and vitamin D concentrations were measured at baseline and at week 48 post-ART.…”

Selenium Deficiency in Soils and Crops and its Impact on Animal and Human Health

“…Low blood Se levels in the northeastern United States are similar to slightly higher compared to those reported for an adjacent population in Canada [108]. Recent studies indicate that low blood serum Se is independently associated with anemia among older men and women in the United States [109]. However, it is cautioned that there is a modest increase in mortality at blood Se levels of higher than 150 μg L -1 [103].…”