[Selenium, an essential and toxic element. Latin American data].

This article discusses the diverse ranges of selenium intake in different countries, with a specific emphasis on Latin America, mentioning that breast fed children in Venezuela have ten-fold selenium ingestion compared to Finnish children. It suggests further studies on selenium levels in Latin America and proposes potential indicators to measure it.

Introduction

• The article begins with a brief discussion on the importance, sources, deficiencies, and excesses of selenium. This is an essential trace element that plays crucial roles in human health. Selenium deficiency can lead to health issues, while its excess can cause toxicity.

Selenium Intake Discrepancies

• The researchers note significant differences in selenium intake across various countries. They highlight a prominent example where breast fed children in Venezuela consume ten times the amount of selenium compared to their counterparts in Finland. The reason behind this stark contrast of selenium ingestion is not addressed directly in the abstract, but it might be due to differences in diet, local soil selenium concentrations, and bioavailability of selenium in consumed food.

Selenium in Sesame Seed Samples

• The text mentions the analysis of sesame seed samples from 20 different countries used as selenium (Se) indicators. The highest and the lowest levels of selenium were identified in seeds of Latin-American origin. This indicates significant variation in selenium concentrations in plant-based foods depending on their geographic origin, largely due to the variable selenium content in soils.

Selenium Levels in Human Body

• Moreover, the highest and lowest urinary and serum selenium levels reported in the scientific literature are also from Latin America. This implies a wide range of selenium intake within this geographic region, further confirming the necessity for more detailed studies.

Recommendations for Further Studies

• There’s a strong call for broader and more detailed studies on selenium intake and selenium levels in Latin America to better understand the etiology behind these inconsistencies.
• The abstract also suggests potential indicators that could be utilized in these studies – the urinary excretion of selenium, selenium concentration in finger nails, and egg whites from free-range hens. These measurements can provide reliable data on individual selenium status and exposure, thereby improving the study design and results.