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Are there functional consequences of a reduction in selenium intake in UK subjects?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 March 2007

Malcolm J. Jackson ,
Stephanie A. Dillon ,
Caroline S. Broome ,
Anne McArdle ,
C. Anthony Hart  and
Francis McArdle
Malcolm J. Jackson*
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GA, UK
Stephanie A. Dillon
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GA, UK
Caroline S. Broome
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GA, UK
Anne McArdle
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GA, UK
C. Anthony Hart
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GA, UK
Francis McArdle
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GA, UK
*
*Corresponding author: Professor M. J. Jackson, fax +44 151 706 5802, email mjj@liv.ac.uk
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Abstract

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Dietary Se levels in the UK have fallen over the last 20 years and recent surveys indicate that average Se intakes are 30–40 μg/d, which is well below the current UK reference nutrient intake for adult men (75 μg/d) or women (60 μg/d). Functional consequences of this decline have not been recognised, although epidemiological data suggest it may contribute to increased risk of infections and incidence of some cancers. Previous data have indicated that biochemical changes in Se-dependent proteins occur in otherwise healthy UK subjects given small Se supplements. The current studies have focused on the effect of small Se supplements on the immune response since there is evidence of specific interactions between Se intake and viral replication, and since the potential anti-cancer effects of Se may be mediated by non-antioxidant effects of Se such as changes in immune function. Data indicate that subjects given small Se supplements (50 or 100 μg Se/d) have changes in the activity of Se-dependent enzymes and evidence of improved immune function and clearance of an administered live attenuated virus in the form of poliovirus vaccine. Responses of individual subjects to Se supplements are variable, and current work is evaluating potential explanations for this variability, including genetic variability and pre-existing Se status.

Keywords

Selenium intakeSelenium supplementsImmune responseSe-dependent proteins
Type
Symposium on ‘Micronutrient interactions and public health’
Information
Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , Volume 63 , Issue 4 , November 2004 , pp. 513 - 517
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2004

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