Variation of Serum Selenium (Se) in Children from Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Will Low Se Affect the Success of Salt Iodization in Ethiopia?

Abstract

Objectives: To assess Se status of 54-60 month-old children in the Amhara region, Ethiopia Methods: Serum from 280 children from five zones of the Amhara regional state, Ethiopia, was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results: The mean serum Se concentration was 65.89±38.4 µg/L (median: 54.54 µg/L). Individual values ranged from 10.66-255.45 µg/L. Overall, 77% of the study children were below the recommended cutoff.  The mean serum Se varied by administrative zones (p<0.05). Mean serum Se concentrations from West Gojjam 44.13±11.37 µg/L; East Gojjam 60.03±26.06 µg/L; and South Gonder 61.76±24.34 µg/L were below the cutoff while mean Se concentrations for South Wollo 153.95±50.47 µg/L; Wagehmera 179.95±46.87 µg/L were adequate;. Means for children from East and West Gojjam and South Gonder were not different (p=0.42) from each other but they were different (p < 0.05) from means of children from South Wollo and Wagehmera. In addition, mean Se concentrations for children from South Wollo and Wagehmera were different (P<0.05) from each other. Conclusions: Our data illustrate the variability of serum Se in children by zones. Although, Ethiopia is making progress with salt iodization, low Se status in some areas may hamper iodine metabolism and success of the salt iodization program.