Amplified serum selenium levels potentially linked to mortality

A study of a demonstrative sample of the U.S. population indicated a relation between all-cause and cancer mortality and serum selenium levels.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University and the National Center of Cardiovascular Investigations in Spain found increasing serum selenium levels up to 130 ng/mL were connected with decreased mortality.

Researchers measured serum selenium levels in 13,887 patients from 1988 to 1994 and followed the patients for 12 years.

Data showed that the average serum selenium level was 125.6 ng/mL. The hazard ratios contrasting the highest level (≥130.39 ng/mL) with the lowest serum selenium level (<117.31 ng/mL) were 0.69 for cancer mortality, 0.94 for cardiovascular mortality and 0.83 for all-cause mortality.

Regression models indicated, however, that the relation between serum selenium levels and all-cause and cancer mortality was nonlinear. They also demonstrated an inverse relation with low selenium levels (<130ng/mL) and a moderate increase in mortality with high selenium levels (>150 ng/mL). Using the regression models, researchers did not find a link between levels of serum selenium and cardiovascular mortality. – by Paul Burress

Arch Intern Med. 2008;168:404-410.