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Low serum selenium is associated with anemia among older adults in the United States
Author(s) -
Semba Richard David,
Ricks Michelle O,
Ferrucci Luigi,
Xue QianLi,
Guralnik Jack M,
Fried Linda P
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.lb98-c
Subject(s) - anemia , medicine , selenium , national health and nutrition examination survey , quartile , body mass index , etiology , gastroenterology , hemoglobin , physiology , population , confidence interval , environmental health , chemistry , organic chemistry
Anemia is common in older adults, and its etiology is not well understood. Anemia occurs in selenium‐deficient animals, and selenium has been shown to protect erythrocytes against oxidative stress. The objective was to determine whether serum selenium is associated with anemia among older adults in the US. Among 2092 noninstitutionalized men and women, aged 65 and older, in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988–1994), 12.9% were anemic. Mean serum selenium in anemic vs non‐anemic adults was 119 and 126 μg/L, respectively ( P = 0.0003). The prevalence of anemia by quartile of serum selenium was 18.3%, 9.5%, 9.7%, and 6.9% ( P = 0.0005). Causes of anemia were classified as nutritional (iron, folate, and B 12 deficiencies), anemia of chronic inflammation (ACI) and renal disease, and unexplained anemia (UA). The proportion of adults in the lowest quartile of selenium among those without anemia and those with anemia due to nutritional causes, ACI/renal disease, or UA was 10.5%, 27.1%, 29.2%, and 18.3%, respectively ( P <0.0001). In a multivariate logistic regression model adjusting for age, education, body mass index, and chronic diseases, where anemia was the outcome, the OR per 1 SD increase in log e selenium was 0.73 (95% CI 0.56–0.95, P = 0.019). Low serum selenium is associated with anemia among older adults in the US and is a potential cause of anemia that needs further investigation. Supported by NIH R01 AG027012 and P30 AG021334.