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Selenium and Oxygen‐Metabolizing Enzymes in Elderly Community Residents: A Pilot Epidemiological Study
Author(s) -
Berr Claudine,
Nicole Annie,
Godin Jean,
CeballosPicot Irene,
Thevenin Marc,
Dartigues JeanFrançois,
Alperovitch Annick
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1993.tb02048.x
Subject(s) - selenium , medicine , incidence (geometry) , physiology , endocrinology , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , optics
Objective To investigate the relationship of selenium and oxygen‐deactivating enzymes with age in the elderly. Sample The study sample consisted of volunteers recruited from the PAQUID study. This study is conducted in a representative sample of non‐institutionalized individuals aged ≥65 years living in Southwestern France; its main objective is to study longitudinally the incidence and risk factors of dementia. Methods Plasma and erythrocyte selenium and activities of oxygen metabolizing enzymes in erythrocytes (GSH‐Px, CuZn‐SOD, and GSSG‐RD) were measured in 239 volunteers (108 males and 131 females; mean age 73.7 years). Results Plasma selenium (PSe) decreased significantly with age; a similar but non‐significant trend was found for erythrocyte selenium (ESe). None of the enzyme activities showed a clear relationship with age. Women had significantly higher GSH‐Px activities than men. For PSe levels lower than 77 ng/mL, there was a strong correlation between PSe and GSH‐Px; above this value, the correlation decreased, suggesting that the selenium requirement for GSH‐Px production had been satisfied. In this sample, CuZn‐SOD was correlated negatively with GSH‐Px ( r = −0.18; P ≤ 0.01) and positively with GSSG‐RD ( r = +0.20; P ≤ 0.01). Conclusions In individuals aged ≥65 years, we found that blood selenium levels were negatively correlated with age. Our analysis of the relationship between selenium and GSH‐Px activity suggests that low selenium values are associated with decreased GSH‐Px activity.