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Features of selenium metabolism in humans living under the conditions of North European Russia

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Abstract

Purpose

Selenium supplementation and its effects on Northerners have been little studied. The aim of our study was to assess the selenium levels of the inhabitants of North European Russia, the seasonal aspects of selenium supplementation, and the interrelationships between selenium levels and the levels of thyroid gland hormones.

Methods

To study the particular features of selenium metabolism in Northerners over the course of 1 year, 19 healthy male Caucasian volunteers (18–21 years old) were recruited for the present study. The subjects were military guards in a Northern European region of Russia (Syktyvkar, Russia, 62°N latitude) who spent 6–10-h outdoors daily. The study was conducted over a 12-month period. Selenium levels, glutathione peroxidase (GP) activity, as well as total triiodothyronine (T3), total thyroxin (T4), free thyroxin, free triiodothyronine, and thyrotropin (TSH) levels, were determined in the blood serum.

Results

The study subjects showed low levels of plasma selenium throughout the year. We observed a noticeable decrease in plasma selenium levels during the period from May to August, with the lowest levels in July. Selenium levels in the military guards correlated with the levels of selenium-dependent GP enzyme activity throughout the year. Additionally, we demonstrated a significant correlation between selenium and pituitary-thyroid axis hormones (total T3, free T4, and TSH) in periods in which plasma selenium levels were lower than the established normal ranges.

Conclusion

Over the course of 1 year, low levels of plasma selenium affect GP activity and thyroid hormone levels in humans living in North European Russia.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental and Social Human Physiology, Institute of Physiology, Komi Science Center of Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Syktyvkar, Russia

    Olga Parshukova, Natalya Potolitsyna, Vera Shadrina, Aleksei Chernykh & Evgeny Bojko

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  1. Olga Parshukova
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  2. Natalya Potolitsyna
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  3. Vera Shadrina
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  4. Aleksei Chernykh
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  5. Evgeny Bojko
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Correspondence to Olga Parshukova.

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Parshukova, O., Potolitsyna, N., Shadrina, V. et al. Features of selenium metabolism in humans living under the conditions of North European Russia. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 87, 607–614 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-013-0895-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-013-0895-4

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