A review of dietary selenium intake and selenium status in Europe and the Middle East

Abstract

This is a systematic review of existing data on dietary selenium (Se) intake and status for various population groups in Europe (including the United Kingdom (UK)) and the Middle East. It includes English language systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomised controlled trials, cohort studies, cross-sectional and case-control studies obtained through PUBMED searches from January, 2002, to November, 2014, for European data and from 1990 to November 2014, for Middle Eastern data. Reports were selected if they included data on Se intake and status. The search identified 19 European/UK studies and 15 investigations in the Middle East that reported Se intake and Se concentration in water and/or food and 48 European/UK studies and 44 investigations in the Middle East reporting Se status. Suboptimal Se status was reported to be widespread throughout Europe, the UK and the Middle East, and these results agreed with previous reports highlighting the problem. Eastern European countries had lower Se intake than Western European countries. Middle Eastern studies provided varying results, possibly due to varying food habits and imports in different regions and within differing socioeconomic groups. In conclusion, Se intake and status is suboptimal in European and Middle Eastern countries, with less consistency in the Middle East.

Figure 1

Biosynthetic pathway of selenocysteine and selenomethionine in plants [3].

Figure 2

Se status (European + UK regions) versus Se concentration required to optimise plasma GPx activity. f = female; m = male; Med = median value; ^# not clear if it is a mean value; ^^ calculated average; ^## sex not established; * converted from ng/g (plasma density 1.025g/mL); ** converted from ng/mL. The red line , indicates concentration required to optimise plasma GPx activity according to Alfthan et al. (98.7 μg/L) [8]. The green line , indicates concentration required to optimise plasma GPx activity according to Duffield et al. (90.01 μg/L) [7]. The yellow line , indicates concentration required to optimise plasma GPx activity according to the WHO (63.16 μg/L) [61]

Figure 2

Se status (European + UK regions) versus Se concentration required to optimise plasma GPx activity. f = female; m = male; Med = median value; ^# not clear if it is a mean value; ^^ calculated average; ^## sex not established; * converted from ng/g (plasma density 1.025g/mL); ** converted from ng/mL. The red line , indicates concentration required to optimise plasma GPx activity according to Alfthan et al. (98.7 μg/L) [8]. The green line , indicates concentration required to optimise plasma GPx activity according to Duffield et al. (90.01 μg/L) [7]. The yellow line , indicates concentration required to optimise plasma GPx activity according to the WHO (63.16 μg/L) [61]

Figure 3

Se status (Middle East regions) versus Se concentration required to optimise plasma GPx activity. ^^ calculated average; ^# not clear if it is a mean value; f = female; m = male; ^## sex not established. The red line , indicates concentration required to optimise plasma GPx activity according to Alfthan et al. (98.7 μg/L) [8]. The green line , indicates concentration required to optimise plasma GPx activity according to Duffield et al. (90.01 μg/L) [7]. The yellow line , indicates concentration required to optimise plasma GPx activity according to the WHO (63.16 μg/L) [61].

Figure 3

Se status (Middle East regions) versus Se concentration required to optimise plasma GPx activity. ^^ calculated average; ^# not clear if it is a mean value; f = female; m = male; ^## sex not established. The red line , indicates concentration required to optimise plasma GPx activity according to Alfthan et al. (98.7 μg/L) [8]. The green line , indicates concentration required to optimise plasma GPx activity according to Duffield et al. (90.01 μg/L) [7]. The yellow line , indicates concentration required to optimise plasma GPx activity according to the WHO (63.16 μg/L) [61].