The Effect of Maternal Dietary Selenium Supplementation on Blood Antioxidant and Metabolic Status of Ewes and Their Lambs.

This study investigated the effect of dietary selenium supplementation (organic and inorganic) of late-gestation ewes on blood selenium concentrations and metabolic and antioxidant status indicators in ewes and their lambs. In addition, the efficacy of selenium transfer from ewes to lambs during the suckling period was determined. The study was conducted on 30 Merinolandschaf ewes and their lambs and lasted four months. The feed mixture of the control group (group I) contained no added selenium, while the feed mixture of group II was enriched with 0.3 mg/kg of organic selenium sources and the third group with 0.3 mg/kg of inorganic selenium sources. In ewes and their lambs, selenium supplementation significantly (p < 0.01; p < 0.05) increased selenium concentration, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activity and decreased malondialdehyde concentration compared to the control group. Selenium supplementation had a positive effect on metabolism and hematological indicators in lambs. A positive correlation was found between antioxidant indicators in the whole blood of ewes and lambs. The good transfer of selenium from ewes to lambs was complemented by higher correlation coefficients when the feed mixture was supplemented with organic compared to inorganic selenium.

Blood selenium, glutathione peroxidase activity and antioxidant supplementation of subjects exposed to arsenic via drinking water.

This work investigated serum selenium (Se) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels in 25 Croatian subjects exposed to high levels of As from drinking water (median As level in urine: 620.74µg/g creatinine) and 25 controls (32.98µg/g creatinine). The exposed group had lower (p<0.001) median serum Se and GPx levels (Se: 82.34µg/l vs 59.02µg/l; GPx: 45.99U/g hemoglobin vs 38.38U/g hemoglobin). A subsample of 20 exposed subjects took part in a 2-month antioxidant supplementation trial which increased median GPx activity from 30.71 to 40.98U/g hemoglobin (p=0.041) and reduced total urinary As median from 680.15 to 501.96µg/g creatinine (p=0.051). The effect of selected catalase (-262C>T) and GPx1 (-593C>T) gene polymorphisms was also examined. The low Se status and GPx activity may heighten risk of adverse health effects, especially in genetically predisposed individuals. The outcome of antioxidant treatment indicates modulation of As metabolism and oxidative stress, relevance of which needs further research.

Selenium in placenta predicts birth weight in normal but not intrauterine growth restriction pregnancy.

Placental selenium, lead and cadmium concentrations were determined in a group of pregnancies with birth weight appropriate for gestational age and in a group of intrauterine growth restriction cases. Following adjustment for a number of confounding variables, selenium was found to be a significant predictor of newborn weight only in the group of pregnancies with birth weights appropriate for gestational age. Placental lead and cadmium levels were not associated with birth weight in either group.

Selected markers of cardiovascular disease in a population exposed to arsenic from drinking water.

This study examined prevalence and serum levels of selected markers of cardiovascular disease in 34 subjects from a Croatian rural population exposed to high levels of arsenic (As) from drinking water (611.89±10.06µg/l). The prevalences of overweight and obese subjects in the population were 32% and 35%. Half the subjects had hypertension, 29% had increased fasting serum glucose level and two were diabetic. Median total cholesterol (5.82mmol/l) and triglycerides (2.15mmol/l) were above the desirable margins. The median C-reactive protein level (1.20mg/l) was slightly higher than previously reported for healthy subjects. Serum Hsp70 level was significantly higher in nonsmokers. Total urinary As levels were positively correlated with age-adjusted serum levels of cobalamin. Near significance were also serum total bilirubin, antibodies to Hsp60 and folate. Tentative investigation of risk factors among subjects classified by tumor necrosis factor-α -308G/A and interleukin-6-174G/C gene polymorphisms was also performed. Collectively, the results are in agreement with the hypothesis of As-induced and/or compounded cardiovascular disease.

The role of fruit drinks in daily diet of some Osijek inhabitants, Croatia.

The aim of the study was to assess the role of fruit drinks in daily diet of Osijek inhabitants. A special questionnaire was administered to 199 patients visiting a family physician's office during December 2003. The concentration of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) was determined in 42 commercially available fruit drinks. Only 11% (22/199) of study subjects did not take fruit drinks. The mean concentration of vitamin C in all samples was 150.10 +/- 166.83 mg/L. The questionnaire revealed that 89% (177/199) of study subjects using fruit drinks were taking a mean of 0.4 L of fruit drink per day, yielding a mean of 60.04 mg of vitamin C, i.e. 100% of the recommended daily allowance of 60 mg. Study results indicated fruit drinks to be a significant source of vitamin C in daily diet, however, great variation in vitamin C intake according to socioeconomic status of study subjects and type of fruit drink should be noted.

High exposure to arsenic from drinking water at several localities in eastern Croatia.

This study investigated the relationship between arsenic concentrations in drinking water in four towns/villages in eastern Croatia and corresponding hair arsenic concentrations of residents. The mean arsenic concentrations in community drinking water samples were 0.14, 37.88, 171.60, and 611.89 microg/l. The corresponding mean concentrations of the element in hair samples of subjects residing in each of the localities were 0.07 (n=11), 0.26 (n=17), 1.74 (n=11), and 4.31 microg/g (n=23). Chronic exposures to arsenic levels estimated in three investigated locations could present a serious health threat to around 3% of Croatian population.