Increased selenium concentrations in seronorm trace elements serum (level 2).

Abstract

Selenium is an essential trace element in humans, the majority of it occurring in selenoproteins. These proteins have several known physiologic functions; they are important antioxidants, maintain normal thyroid function, and are thought to play a role in inhibiting tumor growth (1). There has been considerable interest in studying selenoproteins in serum because the selenium concentrations reported for many populations are less than those required for optimum activity of selenoenzymes. This may have both long- and short-term consequences for human health (1). Recently we evaluated magnetic sector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) methods for determination of selenium in human serum (2). Quality-control protocols should play an important part in any study examining the concentrations of trace elements in clinical samples (3). As part of our quality-assurance program, external reference samples were analyzed extensively over a 12-month period. The purpose of this note is to alert the wider clinical and analytical community that the reported selenium target concentration for Seronorm™ Trace Elements Serum (Level 2) may be in error, …