scholarly journals Biofortified Maize Improves Selenium Status of Women and Children in a Rural Community in Malawi: Results of the Addressing Hidden Hunger With Agronomy Randomized Controlled Trial

2022 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward J. M. Joy ◽  
Alexander A. Kalimbira ◽  
Joanna Sturgess ◽  
Leonard Banda ◽  
Gabriella Chiutsi-Phiri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Community ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Selenium Deficiency ◽  
Selenium Concentration ◽  
Serum Selenium ◽  
Selenium Status ◽  
Maize Flour ◽  
Hidden Hunger ◽  
Serum Selenium Concentration ◽  
Women And Children

Background: Selenium deficiency is widespread in the Malawi population. The selenium concentration in maize, the staple food crop of Malawi, can be increased by applying selenium-enriched fertilizers. It is unknown whether this strategy, called agronomic biofortification, is effective at alleviating selenium deficiency.Objectives: The aim of the Addressing Hidden Hunger with Agronomy (AHHA) trial was to determine whether consumption of maize flour, agronomically-biofortified with selenium, affected the serum selenium concentrations of women, and children in a rural community setting.Design: An individually-randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted in rural Malawi. Participants were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive either intervention maize flour biofortified with selenium through application of selenium fertilizer, or control maize flour not biofortified with selenium. Participant households received enough flour to meet the typical consumption of all household members (330 g capita−1 day−1) for a period of 8 weeks. Baseline and endline serum selenium concentration (the primary outcome) was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).Results: One woman of reproductive age (WRA) and one school-aged child (SAC) from each of 180 households were recruited and households were randomized to each group. The baseline demographic and socioeconomic status of participants were well-balanced between arms. No serious adverse events were reported. In the intervention arm, mean (standard deviation) serum selenium concentration increased over the intervention period from 57.6 (17.0) μg L−1 (n = 88) to 107.9 (16.4) μg L−1 (n = 88) among WRA and from 46.4 (14.8) μg L−1 (n = 86) to 97.1 (16.0) μg L−1 (n = 88) among SAC. There was no evidence of change in serum selenium concentration in the control groups.Conclusion: Consumption of maize flour biofortified through application of selenium-enriched fertilizer increased selenium status in this community providing strong proof of principle that agronomic biofortification could be an effective approach to address selenium deficiency in Malawi and similar settings.Clinical Trial Registration:http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN85899451, identifier: ISRCTN85899451.

scholarly journals Can selenium deficiency in Malawi be alleviated through consumption of agro-biofortified maize flour? Study protocol for a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Joy ◽  
Alexander Kalimbira ◽  
Dawd Gashu ◽  
Elaine Ferguson ◽  
Joanna Sturgess ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Venous Blood ◽  
Selenium Deficiency ◽  
Selenium Concentration ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Maize Flour ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Hidden Hunger

Abstract Background Micronutrient deficiencies including selenium (Se) are widespread in Malawi and potentially underlie a substantial disease burden, particularly among poorer and marginalised populations. Concentrations of Se in staple cereal crops can be increased through application of Se fertilisers – a process known as agronomic (agro-) biofortification – and this may contribute to alleviating deficiencies. The Addressing Hidden Hunger with Agronomy (AHHA) trial aims to establish the efficacy of this approach for improving Se status in rural Malawi. Methods A double-blind, randomised, controlled trial will be conducted in a rural community in Kasungu District, Central Region, Malawi. The hypothesis is that consumption of maize flour agro-biofortified with Se will increase serum Se concentration. We will recruit 180 women of reproductive age (WRA; 20–45 years) and 180 school-aged children (SAC; 5–10 years) randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive either maize flour enriched through agro-biofortification with Se or a control flour not enriched with Se. Households will receive flour (330 g capita -1 day -1 ) for 12 weeks. The primary outcome is Se concentration in serum (µg L -1 ). Serum will be extracted from venous blood samples drawn at baseline (prior to flour distribution) and end-line. Selenium concentration will be measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS). Discussion Findings will be communicated to policy stakeholders and participating communities and reported in peer-reviewed journals. Trial registration The Addressing Hidden Hunger with Agronomy (Malawi) trial is registered (March 2019; ISCRTN85899451).

scholarly journals Can selenium deficiency in Malawi be alleviated through consumption of agro-biofortified maize flour? Study protocol for a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial

Trials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward J. M. Joy ◽  
Alexander A. Kalimbira ◽  
Dawd Gashu ◽  
Elaine L. Ferguson ◽  
Joanna Sturgess ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Venous Blood ◽  
Selenium Concentration ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Maize Flour ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Hidden Hunger

Abstract Background Micronutrient deficiencies including selenium (Se) are widespread in Malawi and potentially underlie a substantial disease burden, particularly among poorer and marginalised populations. Concentrations of Se in staple cereal crops can be increased through application of Se fertilisers – a process known as agronomic biofortification (agro-biofortification) – and this may contribute to alleviating deficiencies. The Addressing Hidden Hunger with Agronomy (AHHA) trial aims to establish the efficacy of this approach for improving Se status in rural Malawi. Methods A double-blind, randomised, controlled trial will be conducted in a rural community in Kasungu District, Central Region, Malawi. The hypothesis is that consumption of maize flour agro-biofortified with Se will increase serum Se concentration. We will recruit 180 women of reproductive age (WRA) (20–45 years) and 180 school-age children (SAC) (5–10 years) randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either maize flour enriched through agro-biofortification with Se or a control flour not enriched with Se. Households will receive flour (330 g per capita per day) for 12 weeks. The primary outcome is Se concentration in serum (μg/L). Serum will be extracted from venous blood samples drawn at baseline (prior to flour distribution) and end-line. Selenium concentration will be measured by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Discussion Findings will be communicated to policy stakeholders and participating communities and reported in peer-reviewed journals. Trial registration The Addressing Hidden Hunger with Agronomy (Malawi) trial is registered (5th March 2019; ISCRTN85899451).

scholarly journals Selenium Status in Heifers, Late Pregnancy Cows and Their Calves in the Šumava Region, Czech Republic

2007 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 519-524 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Slavík ◽  
J. Illek ◽  
T. Zelený
Keyword(s):  
Selenium Concentration ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Serum Selenium ◽  
Selenium Status ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Serum Selenium Concentration ◽  
Production Stages ◽  
Mineral Licks ◽  
Gshpx Activity ◽  
The Difference

The objective of this study was to ascertain selenium status in beef cattle in different stages of production in the Šumava region. In the region, blood collections and analyses for selected metabolic variables were performed in 54 animals in different production stages (18 heifers, 18 cows in late pregnancy and 18 calves aged 3 weeks on the average). Three herds were studied. The selenium status was determined both directly by measuring serum selenium (Se) contents and indirectly by measuring glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in whole blood. The mean serum selenium concentration in all the animals under study (n = 54) was 30.6 μg/l +/- 2.91, and mean GSH-Px activity was 167.01 μkat/l +/- 92.39. In heifers, mean serum selenium concentration was 34.81 μg/l +/- 13.84; mean GSHPx activity was 186.96 μkat/l +/- 112.15. In late pregnancy cows, mean serum selenium concentration was 26.58 μg/l +/- 8.01, mean GSH-Px activity was 94.55 +/- 35.72 μkat/l. In calves, mean serum selenium concentration and GSH-Px activity were 30.41 μg/l +/- 12 and 219.54 μkat/l +/- 64.41, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the heifers and late pregnancy cows in both variables under study. However, between the late pregnancy cows and the calves, only the difference in GSH-Px activity was significant. The results indicate severe Se deficiency in the animals under study. It means apart from other things that mineral licks used did not provide enough minerals to meet the basic requirements of the animals.

Selenium status, thyroid volume, and multiple nodule formation in an area with mild iodine deficiency

2011 ◽  
Vol 164 (4) ◽  
pp. 585-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lone Banke Rasmussen ◽  
Lutz Schomburg ◽  
Josef Köhrle ◽  
Inge Bülow Pedersen ◽  
Birgit Hollenbach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Gland ◽  
Iodine Deficiency ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Thyroid Volume ◽  
Selenium Concentration ◽  
Serum Selenium ◽  
Selenium Status ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Serum Selenium Concentration ◽  
Low Serum

ObjectiveThe objective was to study the associations between serum selenium concentration and thyroid volume, as well as the association between serum selenium concentration and risk for an enlarged thyroid gland in an area with mild iodine deficiency before and after iodine fortification was introduced. Another objective was to examine the association between serum selenium concentration and prevalence of thyroid nodules.DesignCross-sectional study.MethodsWe studied participants of two similar cross-sectional studies carried out before (1997–1998, n=405) and after (2004–2005, n=400) introduction of iodine fortification. Serum selenium concentration and urinary iodine were measured, and the thyroid gland was examined by ultrasonography in the same subjects. Associations between serum selenium concentration and thyroid parameters were examined in multiple linear regression models or logistic regression models.ResultsSerum selenium concentration was found to be significantly, negatively associated with thyroid volume (P=0.006), and a low selenium status significantly increased the risk for thyroid enlargement (P=0.007). Furthermore, low serum selenium status had a tendency to increase the risk for development of multiple nodules (P=0.087).ConclusionsLow serum selenium concentration was associated with a larger thyroid volume and a higher prevalence of thyroid enlargement.

scholarly journals Can selenium deficiency in Malawi be alleviated through consumption of agro-biofortified maize flour? Study protocol for a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Joy ◽  
Alexander Kalimbira ◽  
Dawd Gashu ◽  
Elaine Ferguson ◽  
Joanna Sturgess ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Venous Blood ◽  
Selenium Deficiency ◽  
Selenium Concentration ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Maize Flour ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Gates Foundation ◽  
Randomised Controlled

Abstract BackgroundMicronutrient deficiencies including selenium (Se) are widespread in Malawi and potentially underlie a substantial disease burden, particularly among poorer and marginalised populations. Concentrations of Se in staple cereal crops can be increased through application of Se fertilisers – a process known as agronomic (agro-) biofortification – and this may contribute to alleviating deficiencies. The Addressing Hidden Hunger with Agronomy (AHHA) trial aims to establish the efficacy of this approach for improving Se status in rural Malawi.MethodsA double-blind, randomised, controlled trial will be conducted in a rural community in Kasungu District, Central Region, Malawi. The hypothesis is that consumption of maize flour agro-biofortified with Se will increase serum Se concentration. We will recruit 180 women of reproductive age (WRA; 20–45 years) and 180 school-aged children (SAC; 5–10 years) randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive either maize flour enriched through agro-biofortification with Se or a control flour not enriched with Se. Households will receive flour (330 g [i]capita[/i]-1 day-1) for 12 weeks. The primary outcome is Se concentration in serum (µg L-1). Serum will be extracted from venous blood samples drawn at baseline (prior to flour distribution) and end-line. Selenium concentration will be measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS).DiscussionFindings will be communicated to policy stakeholders and participating communities and reported in peer-reviewed journals. This work was supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Grant Number OPP1181048

scholarly journals Association Between Serum Selenium Concentrations and Levels of Proinflammatory and Profibrotic Cytokines - Interleukin-6 and Growth Differentiation Factor-15, in Patients with Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrzej Prystupa ◽  
Paweł Kiciński ◽  
Dorota Luchowska-Kocot ◽  
Anna Blazewicz ◽  
Jarosław Niedziałek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Interleukin 6 ◽  
Selenium Deficiency ◽  
Selenium Concentration ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Serum Selenium ◽  
Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Growth Differentiation Factor 15 ◽  
Differentiation Factor ◽  
Serum Selenium Concentration

According to some authors, the serum selenium level is strongly associated with the severity of liver diseases including liver cirrhosis. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the concentration of selenium and pro-inflammatory and profibrotic cytokines – interleukin-6 (IL-6) and growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. The parameters studied were determined in serum of 99 alcoholic liver cirrhosis patients divided based on the severity of disease according to the Child-Turcotte-Pugh criteria. In patients with liver cirrhosis, the serum selenium concentration was statistically lower whereas serum IL-6 and GDF-15 concentrations were higher than those in the control group. Moreover, the concentration of selenium negatively correlated with the levels of GDF-15 and IL-6. The above results may indicate a role of selenium deficiency in the pathogenesis and progression of alcoholic liver disease.

Reduction of Liver Glutathione Peroxidase Activity and Deficiency of Serum Selenium in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

1986 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 617-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Corrocher ◽  
Massimo Casaril ◽  
Giuseppe Bellisola ◽  
Giovanbattista Gabrielli ◽  
Minerva Hulpe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Glutathione Peroxidase ◽  
Selenium Deficiency ◽  
Selenium Concentration ◽  
Normal Liver ◽  
Serum Selenium ◽  
Glutathione Peroxidase Activity ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Serum Selenium Concentration ◽  
Reduced Activity

Twelve adults with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 8 individuals with hystologically normal liver, were measured for serum selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) of liver tissue. It was found a reduced serum selenium and liver GSH-Px in patients with HCC. Serum selenium concentration and the enzyme activity were positively correlated (p < 0.01). The increased risk of carcinoma in selenium deficiency may be partially due to a reduced activity of GSH-Px, one of the most important scavenger enzymes of oxygen toxic radicals.

scholarly journals Association Between Serum Selenium and Serum C-Reactive Protein Concentrations in Persons Infected With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1323-1323
Author(s):  
Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar ◽  
Krishna !Poudel
Keyword(s):  
Selenium Deficiency ◽  
Selenium Concentration ◽  
Serum Selenium ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Serum Selenium Levels ◽  
Serum Selenium Concentration ◽  
Serum Crp

Abstract Objectives Chronic inflammation and selenium deficiency are common in persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Both C-reactive protein, a pro-inflammatory biomarker, and selenium deficiency have been associated with accelerated disease progression and poorer survival among persons infected with HIV-infection. However, research on the role of serum selenium levels in inflammation is limited. We assessed the association between serum selenium levels and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations in a cohort of persons infected with HIV. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 233 HIV-infected persons (124 men and 109 women) aged 18–60 years who were residing in Kathmandu, Nepal. Regular serum CRP and selenium concentrations were measured by the latex agglutination turbidimetric and the atomic absorption method, respectively. Relationships were assessed using multiple linear regression analysis to adjust for potential confounding factors including sociodemographic, smoking, body mass index, chronic diseases, CD4+ T-cell count, and anti-retroviral therapy. Results The geometric means of serum selenium and CRP concentrations were 9.65 µg/dL and 1.43 mg/L, respectively. Mean serum CRP concentration was significantly decreased with increasing serum selenium concentration across selenium tertiles (P for trend = 0.019), with mean serum CRP concentration in the highest tertile of serum selenium concentration was 40.8% lower than that in the lowest tertile. We found a significant inverse relation between log selenium and log CRP concentrations (beta for 1 unit change in log selenium; β = −1.01, p = 0.06). Conclusions Serum selenium levels may be inversely associated with serum CRP concentrations in persons infected with HIV. Further prospective study to confirm the role of serum selenium levels in inflammation among persons infected with HIV is warranted. Funding Sources University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Low Platelet Glutathione Peroxidase Activity and Serum Selenium Concentration in Patients with Chronic Renal Failure: Relations to Dialysis Treatments, Diet and Cardiovascular Complications

1993 ◽  
Vol 84 (6) ◽  
pp. 611-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Domenico Girelli ◽  
Oliviero Olivieri ◽  
Anna Maria Stanzial ◽  
Margherita Azzini ◽  
Antonio Lupo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renal Failure ◽  
Chronic Renal Failure ◽  
Glutathione Peroxidase ◽  
Peroxidase Activity ◽  
Selenium Concentration ◽  
Cardiovascular Complications ◽  
Serum Selenium ◽  
Selenium Status ◽  
Glutathione Peroxidase Activity ◽  
Serum Selenium Concentration

1. Selenium status was investigated in patients with chronic renal failure, with special regard to its relations to the dialysis treatments, dietary habits and clinical signs of atherosclerosis. 2. Serum selenium concentration and platelet glutathione peroxidase activity were measured in 45 patients with chronic renal failure subdivided into three groups according to the type of treatment: 15 non-dialysed, 15 on haemodialysis, 15 on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. A 7-day diet history was carried out in all patients. Seventeen of the patients with chronic renal failure had clinically overt cardiovascular disease. Forty-five age-matched healthy subjects were considered as controls. 3. Both serum selenium concentration and platelet glutathione peroxidase were significantly reduced in all patients with chronic renal failure compared with control subjects; a direct and significant correlation was found between the two parameters. No differences in selenium status were observed among the non-dialysed, haemodialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis groups. No correlation between total calorie or protein intakes and selenium indices were observed. The chronic renal failure patients with cardiovascular complications showed a further significant reduction in both serum selenium concentration and platelet glutathione peroxidase activity as compared with the patients without cardiovascular complications; these two groups were similar with respect to the other well-known cardiovascular risk factors (age, smoking, plasma lipids, hypertension, body mass index). 4. It is concluded that a low selenium concentration is present in chronic renal failure, which is independent of dialysis and is accompanied by biological repercussion in terms of reduced platelet glutathione peroxidase activity. It may represent a previously unrecognized cofactor favouring the ‘accelerated’ atherosclerosis of patients with chronic renal failure.

Low Selenium Status in the Elderly Influences Thyroid Hormones

1995 ◽  
Vol 89 (6) ◽  
pp. 637-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliviero Olivieri ◽  
Domenico Girelli ◽  
Margherita Azzini ◽  
Anna Maria Stanzial ◽  
Carla Russo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glutathione Peroxidase ◽  
Thyroid Hormones ◽  
Peroxidase Activity ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Serum Selenium ◽  
Selenium Status ◽  
Glutathione Peroxidase Activity ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Double Blind Placebo

1. Iodothyronine 5′-deiodinase, which is mainly responsible for peripheral triiodothyronine (T3) production, has recently been demonstrated to be a selenium-containing enzyme. In the elderly, reduced peripheral conversion of thyroxine (T4) to T3 and overt hypothyroidism are frequently observed. 2. We measured serum selenium and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (as indices of selenium status), thyroid hormones and thyroid-stimulating hormone in 109 healthy euthyroid subjects (52 women, 57 men), carefully selected to exclude abnormally low thyroid hormone levels induced by acute or chronic diseases or calorie restriction. The subjects were subdivided into three age groups. To avoid conditions of undernutrition or malnutrition, dietary records were obtained for a sample of 24 subjects, randomly selected and representative of the whole population for age and sex. 3. In order to properly assess the influence of selenium status on iodothyronine 5′-deiodinase type I activity, a double-blind placebo-controlled trial was also carried out on 36 elderly subjects, resident at a privately owned nursing home. 4. In the free-living population, a progressive reduction of the T3/T4 ratio (due to increased T4 levels) and of selenium and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity was observed with advancing age. A highly significant linear correlation between T4, T3/T4 and selenium was observed in the population as a whole (for T4, R = −0.312, P < 0.002; for T3/T4 ratio, R = 0.32, P < 0.01) and in older subjects (for T4, R = −0.40, P < 0.05; for T3/T4 ratio, R = 0.54, P < 0.002). 5. The main result of the double-blind placebo-controlled trial was a significant improvement of selenium indices and a decrease in the T4 level in selenium-treated subjects; serum selenium, erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity and thyroid hormones did not change in placebo-treated subjects. 6. We concluded that selenium status influences thyroid hormones in the elderly, mainly modulating T4 levels.

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