Selenium Levels and Glutathione Peroxidase Activities in Blood in an Andean High-Altitude Population

Hideki IMAI; Hiroshi KASHIWAZAKI; Tsuguyoshi SUZUKI; Michinori KAEUTO; Seiichiro HIMENO; Chiho WATANABE; Kazuhiko Moji; She-Whan KIM; José ORÍAS RIVERA; Tai-ichiro TAKEMOTO

doi:10.3177/jnsv.41.349

Hideki IMAI, Hiroshi KASHIWAZAKI, Tsuguyoshi SUZUKI, Michinori KAEUTO, Seiichiro HIMENO, Chiho WATANABE, Kazuhiko Moji, She-Whan KIM, José ORÍAS RIVERA, Tai-ichiro TAKEMOTO

Author information

Hideki IMAI
Regional Environment Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies
Hiroshi KASHIWAZAKI
Department of Human Ecology, School of International Health, University of Tokyo
Tsuguyoshi SUZUKI
Department of Human Ecology, School of International Health, University of Tokyo
Michinori KAEUTO
Department of Human Ecology, School of International Health, University of Tokyo
Seiichiro HIMENO
Department of Public Health, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kitasato University
Chiho WATANABE
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Tohoku University School of Medicine
Kazuhiko Moji
Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Nagasaki University
She-Whan KIM
Department of Physical Education, College of Education, Kangweon University
José ORÍAS RIVERA
Hospital Virgen de Copacabana, La Paz
Tai-ichiro TAKEMOTO
Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Nagasaki University

Keywords: selenium, glutathione peroxidase, high-altitude, Bolivia, serum, erythrocytes, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concen-tration

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

1995 Volume 41 Issue 3 Pages 349-361

DOI https://doi.org/10.3177/jnsv.41.349

[Correction] Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, J Nutr Sci Vitaminol Vol.41 No.5 (1995) pp.e1-e1

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Abstract

Selenium (Se) levels in blood (whole blood, erythrocytes and serum) and blood glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity were investigated in people living at high altitude in Bolivia (4, 000m above sea level). These parameters were compared to those of people living at low altitude (300m above sea level). The Se levels in whole blood of the high-altitude subjects did not differ significantly from those of the low-altitude subjects. However, the Se levels in erythrocytes were significantly lower in the high-altitude subjects than in the low-altitude subjects, whereas serum Se levels were higher in the high-altitude subjects than in the low-altitude subjects. GSH-Px activity (Unit/g Hb) was significantly lower in the high-altitude subjects than in the low-altitude subjects. The mean corpuscular Hb concentration (MCHC), an indicator of the age of erythrocytes, in the high-altitude subjects was significantly higher than in the low-altitude subjects. These results show that the GSH-Px activity in the blood of the high-altitude subjects is relatively low. This may be due to their aged erythrocytes and/or to relatively low Se intake in the high-altitude population compared with low-altitude population.

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