Higher Serum Selenium Concentrations Research Articles

Prediagnostic serum selenium in a case-control study of thyroid cancer.

Sera from 43 persons who developed thyroid cancer on an average 4.8 years after blood sampling were compared with sera from controls. Three controls per case matched for sex, age, place of residence and year of blood sampling, with regard to serum selenium and serum copper. Cases were significantly lower in serum selenium than controls, and the estimated odds ratio of thyroid cancer increased from 1 for levels greater than or equal to 1.65 mumol/l, to 6.1 for levels 1.26-1.64 mumol/l, to 7.7 for levels less than or equal to 1.25 mumol/l. When time from blood sampling to diagnosis of the case was considered, it could be shown that the protective effect of high serum selenium concentrations was restricted to the last (less than 7) years prior to the diagnosis of thyroid cancer. The serum selenium concentration of cases tended to decrease relative to controls the shorter time was from blood sampling to the diagnosis. There was no difference between cases and controls with regard to serum copper.

Serum selenium in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Preliminary results

Serum selenium concentrations were analysed in 24 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and in 152 healthy schoolchildren. Selenium was determined by the energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence technique. Lower median selenium levels were found in children with leukemia, who were on maintenance therapy and who later relapsed, than in controls (p < 0.02) and in children who remained in remission and could have treatment discontinued (p < 0.01). Median observation time for children remaining in continuous complete remission (CCR) was 66 months. There was no significant correlation between low or high serum selenium concentrations on the one hand and either age, sex, weight and height, white blood cell counts (WBC), blood platelets, S-ASAT, S-ALAT, serum protein or serum albumin on the other. Further studies are needed to evaluate the role of selenium for the course of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children.