Skip to main content
Log in

Serum selenium and precursors of cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents

  • Published:
European Journal of Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine, in a population of Italian adolescents, the association of serum selenium levels with precursors of biochemical and anthropometric variables known as being among the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in the adult population. The following measurements were taken in a school sample of 627 adolescents (aged 12–13 years): serum selenium, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, height, weight, body mass index, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure.

The serum selenium levels were slightly higher in males (83.1 ± 10.1 μg/1) than in females (81.7 ±- 11.0 μg/1), but the difference was not statistically significant. Serum selenium was positively correlated with total cholesterol, diastolic blood pressure and HDL cholesterol in both sexes; moreover it was positively correlated with non-HDL cholesterol and negatively correlated with height in males only.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Crespo A.M. and Pinto R.E. (1988): Effect of Selenium supplementation in rat diet on blood plasma lipid parameters. Selenium in Medicine and Biology — Eds. Neve-Favier, Walter de Gruyter & Co.

  2. EllisN., LloydB., LloydR.S. and ClaytonB.L. (1984): Selenium and vitamin E in relation to risk factors for coronary heart disease - J. Clin. Pathol. 37: 200–206.

    Google Scholar 

  3. LloydB., LloydR.S. and ClaytonB.E. (1983): Effect of smoking, alcohol and other factors on the selenium status of a healthy population - J. Epidemiol. Community Health 37: 213–217.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Lopes YinellaM.F., StaonP., EllisS. and ColwelJ. (1977): High density lipoprotein separated by three different methods - Clin. Chem. 23: 882–884.

    Google Scholar 

  5. MiettinenT.A., AlfthanG., HuttunenJ.K., PikkarainenJ., MattilaS. and KumlinT. (1983): Serum selenium concentration related to myocardial infarction and fatty acid content of serum lipids - Br. Med. J. 287: 517–519.

    Google Scholar 

  6. MorisiG., PatriarcaM. and MenottiA. (1988): Improved determination of selenium in serum by Zeeman atomic absorption spectrometry - Clin. Chem. 34: 127–130.

    Google Scholar 

  7. MorisiG., PatriarcaM., MaranoG., GiampaoliS. and TaggiF. (1989): Reference values of selenium in serum estimated for the Italian population according to age and sex - Ann. Ist. Super. Sanità 25: 393–404.

    Google Scholar 

  8. RingstadJ., JacobsenB.K. and ThomassenY. (1987): The Troms Heart Study: Relationships between the concentration of selenium in serum and risk factors for coronary heart disease - J. Trace Elem. Electrolytes Health Dis. 1: 27–31.

    Google Scholar 

  9. RobinsonM.F., CampbellD.R., SutherlandW.H.F., HerbisonG.P., PaulinJ.M. and SimpsonO. (1983): Selenium and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in New Zealand. NZ. Med. J. 96: 755–757.

    Google Scholar 

  10. SalonenJ.T., AlfthanG., HuttunenJ.K., PikkarainenJ. and PuskaP. (1982): Association between cardiovascular death and myocardial infarction and serum selenium in a matched-pair longitudinal study- Lancet 2: 175–179.

    Google Scholar 

  11. SalonenJ.T., SalonenR., IhanainenM., ParviainenM., SeppanenR., KantolaM., SeppanenK. and RauzamaaR. (1988): Blood pressure, dietary fats and antioxidants - Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 48: 1226–1232.

    Google Scholar 

  12. YirtamoJ., ValkeilaE., AlfthanG., PunsarS., HuttunenJ.K. and KarvonenM.J. (1985): Serum selenium and the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke - Am. J. Epidemiol. 122: 276–282.

    Google Scholar 

  13. WHO Multinational Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease (1983): Manual of operations (MONICA Project) - Geneva: WHO/MNC 82.2.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Corresponding author.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Spagnolo, A., Morisi, G., Marano, G. et al. Serum selenium and precursors of cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents. Eur J Epidemiol 7, 654–657 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00218677

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00218677

Key words

Navigation