The MURR Center study to measure selenium status
in Missouri's citizens started with an eight-county region
in Central Missouri. Our objective is to screen for sub-optimal
selenium status and empower individuals, in consultation with
a medical or dietary professional, to take corrective action
if warranted. The results are summarized in the figure below according to three of the major determinants of selenium
status—gender, supplementation and smoking. When subjects
neither smoke nor take selenium supplements (orange bars), we
find that females are significantly higher in selenium status
than males. When both groups use selenium supplements (red bars),
parity between males and females is nearly achieved. For both
males and females, cigarette smoking has a significant negative
impact on selenium status (light green bars) that decreases further
with number of cigarettes smoked (dark green bars).
 When the data obtained
in the Central Missouri study are adjusted for gender, supplement
use and smoking, they reveal the distribution of selenium status
in Central Missouri depicted in the figure below. Approximately
2700 women and men, ages 18 to 94, with an average age of 55.8
years, are represented in this figure. Nearly 24% of Central
Missourians, more men than women, are at or below the 0.75 ppm
threshold and are potentially selenium deficient. How is selenium
distributed in other parts of Missouri; particularly those regions
having a higher incidence of, and mortality from, cancer? We
are currently pursuing this question in a pilot study in collaboration
with MU's Department of Nutritional Sciences.
(Click here to see chart enlarged)
Sub-optimal selenium status can be corrected; however, simply
taking selenium supplements without considering the consequences
of selenium toxicity is also of concern to health professionals.
We believe that through prudent use of dietary supplements, with
careful testing, sub-acute selenium deficiency can be eliminated
without the detrimental effects that can occur from ingesting
too much selenium.
Awareness of the importance of screening for wellness markers
where the goals are early detection, or better yet, prevention,
is increasing. As a Land Grant institution, the University of
Missouri has a mission of outreach and service to the citizens
of Missouri and beyond. The MURR Center contributes to this mission
by producing neutrons for nutrition.
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University of Missouri-Columbia
