ABSTRACT
The major determinants of the Selenium (Se) status relate to nutritional intake, metabolism, and excretion. Different biomarkers are used for approaching the Se status of human subjects in clinical studies. The dietary intakes, as well as total Se and selenoproteins in serum or plasma are most often determined in clinical studies. There are several analytic methods to monitor the nutritional intake of Se, differing by accuracy and precision, degree of efforts, time and resources needed, and dependence on learned assumptions and extrapolations. The following potential biomarkers have been used in some clinical studies: Total Se in full blood, serum, or plasma; glutathione peroxidase activity determined in blood cells, serum or plasma; and selenoprotein concentrations in serum or plasma. In human subjects, the liver is the major organ to receive nutritional Se and systematically channels it into the circulation and to other tissues.
