Blood Selenium Concentrations Are Inversely Associated with the Risk of Undernutrition in Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Selenium is an essential trace element with an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity that has been associated in experimental studies with beneficial effects on appetite control, the regulation of the gut microbiota, and control of the anabolic-catabolic balance. The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between circulating selenium concentrations and the risk of developing undernutrition in older adults. METHODS: This was a cohort study with 1398 well-nourished community-dwelling individuals aged ≥ 65 years residing in Spain in 2017, who were followed for a mean of 2.3 years. Whole blood selenium was measured at baseline using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Undernutrition was assessed at baseline and at follow-up, and defined as having at least one of the three GLIM phenotypic criteria (involuntary weight loss, a low body mass index, and a reduced muscle mass) and at least one of the two etiologic criteria (reduced food consumption or nutrient assimilation and inflammation/disease burden). RESULTS: During the follow-up, 142 participants (11%) developed moderate undernutrition and 113 (8.8%) severe undernutrition. The standardized relative risks of moderate and severe undernutrition at the 75th percentile of Se levels versus the 25th were 0.90 and 0.70, respectively. In dose-response analyses, the risk of severe undernutrition decreased linearly with increasing selenium concentrations. This association was independent of protein intake or diet quality and was stronger among participants with a diagnosis of a musculoskeletal disorder. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that an adequate dietary selenium status is needed to prevent undernutrition in older adults. Also, this may open the door for clinical trials with selenium supplementation, at doses considered as safe, to prevent undernutrition.

Melatonin Improves Levels of Zn and Cu in the Muscle of Diabetic Obese Rats.

Melatonin improves metabolic alterations associated with obesity and its diabetes (diabesity). We intend to determine whether this improvement is exerted by changing Zn and/or Cu tissue levels in liver, muscle, pancreas, and brain, and in internal (perirenal, perigonadal, and omentum) and subcutaneous lumbar white adipose tissues (IWAT and SWAT, respectively). Male Zücker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats and lean littermates (ZL) were orally supplemented either with melatonin (10 mg/kg body weight/day) or vehicle for 6 weeks. Zn and Cu concentrations were not significantly influenced by diabesity in the analyzed tissues (p > 0.05), with the exception of Zn in liver. In skeletal muscle Zn and Cu, and in perirenal WAT, only Zn levels increased significantly with melatonin supplementation in ZDF rats (p < 0.05). This cytoplasmic Zn enhancement would be probably associated with the upregulation of several Zn influx membrane transporters (Zips) and could explain the amelioration in the glycaemia and insulinaemia by upregulating the Akt and downregulating the inhibitor PTP1B, in obese and diabetic conditions. Enhanced Zn and Cu levels in muscle cells could be related to the reported antioxidant melatonin activity exerted by increasing the Zn, Cu-SOD, and extracellular Cu-SOD activity. In conclusion, melatonin, by increasing the muscle levels of Zn and Cu, joined with our previously reported findings improves glycaemia, insulinaemia, and oxidative stress in this diabesity animal model.

Spatial relationship between well water arsenic and uranium in Northern Plains native lands.

Arsenic and uranium in unregulated private wells affect many rural populations across the US. The distribution of these contaminants in the private wells of most American Indian communities is poorly characterized, and seldom studied together. Here, we evaluate the association between drinking water arsenic and uranium levels in wells (n = 441) from three tribal regions in North Dakota and South Dakota participating in the Strong Heart Water Study. Groundwater contamination was extensive; 29% and 7% of wells exceeded maximum contaminant levels for arsenic and uranium respectively. 81% of wells had both arsenic and uranium concentrations at one-tenth of their human-health benchmark (arsenic, 1 µg/L; uranium 3 µg/L). Well arsenic and uranium concentrations were uncorrelated (rs = 0.06); however, there appeared to be a spatial correlation of wells co-contaminated by arsenic and uranium associated with flow along a geologic contact. These findings indicate the importance of measuring multiple metals in well water, and to understand underlying hydrogeological conditions. The underlying mechanisms for the prevalence of arsenic and uranium across Northern Plains Tribal Lands in the US, and in particular the occurrence of both elevated arsenic and uranium in drinking water wells in this region, demands further study.

[Reference values for thyroid hormones in the population of pregnant women in Jaen (Spain)]. / Valores de referencia de hormonas tiroideas en la población de mujeres gestantes de Jaén.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate thyroid function in the three trimesters of pregnancy in healthy women taking iodine and to define the reference ranges of normality in this population. DESIGN: Descriptive study of pregnant women to define the ranges of normality of thyroid hormones in this population. SETTING: Jaen and Osuna (Spain). POPULATION: Healthy pregnant women. METHODS: Thyroid hormone determination in the three trimesters of pregnancy in healthy women taking iodine supplements. RESULTS: A total of 429 pregnant women taking iodine supplements to maintain urinary iodine levels within the normal range were included. T4-l levels were between 0.60 and 1.06 in the first trimester, between 0.43 and 0.85 ng/dl in the second and between 0.40 and 0.82 ng/dl in the third. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) reference values were between 0.23 and 4.18µUI/ml in the first trimester, 1.78 and 3.89µUI/ml in the second and 2.01 and 4.30µUI/ml in the third. T3-l values were between 2.33 and 3.84 pg/ml in the first trimester, between 2.04 and 3.51 pg/ml in the second and between 1.99 and 3.46 pg/ml in the third. CONCLUSION: Bearing the 3rd and 97th percentiles in mind, the reference ranges in our population were far below those recommended by our reference laboratory. In view of these results, these values should be redefined to avoid incorrect diagnoses of hyperthyroxinemia in healthy pregnant women.

Valores de referencia de hormonas tiroideas en la población de mujeres gestantes de Jaén / Reference values for thyroid hormones in the population of pregnant women in jaen (Spain)

Objetivo Valorar la función tiroidea en los tres trimestres de gestación en mujeres sanas suplementadas con yodo y definir los límites de referencia de la normalidad de esta población. Diseño Estudio descriptivo sobre la mujer gestante para definir los límites de normalidad de hormonas tiroideas en esta población. Emplazamiento Jaén y Osuna. Población Gestantes sanas. Métodos Determinación de hormonas tiroideas en los tres trimestres de gestación en mujeres sanas suplementadas con yodo. Resultados Cuatrocientas veintinueve gestantes fueron suplementadas con yodo para mantener nivel de yoduria en los límites de normalidad. Las concentraciones de T4-l estuvieron entre 0,60 y 1,06 para el primer trimestre, entre 0,43 y 0,85 ng/dl en el segundo trimestre y entre 0,40 y 0,82 ng/dl en el tercer trimestre. Para la TSH los valores de referencia son: 0,23 y 4,18μUI/ml en el primer trimestre, 1,78 y 3,89μUI/ml en el segundo trimestre y 2,01 y 4,30μUI/ml en el tercer trimestre. Para T3-l los límites en el primer trimestre es de 2,33 a 3,84 pg/ml, entre 2,04 y 3,51 pg/ml en el segundo trimestre y entre 1,99 y 3,46 pg/ml en el tercer trimestre. ConclusiónLos límites de referencia para nuestra población teniendo en cuenta los percentiles 3 y 97 están muy por debajo del recomendado por nuestro laboratorio de referencia, lo que obliga a redefinir estas concentraciones para evitar diagnosticar de forma incorrecta de hipotiroxinemia a la mujer gestante sana (AU)

Objective: To evaluate thyroid function in the three trimesters of pregnancy in healthy women taking iodine and to define the reference ranges of normality in this population. Design: Descriptive study of pregnant women to define the ranges of normality of thyroid hormones in this population. Setting: Jaen and Osuna (Spain).Population: Healthy pregnant women. Methods: Thyroid hormone determination in the three trimesters of pregnancy in healthy women taking iodine supplements. Results: A total of 429 pregnant women taking iodine supplements to maintain urinary iodine levels within the normal range were included. T4-l levels were between 0.60 and 1.06 in the first trimester, between 0.43 and 0.85 ng/dl in the second and between 0.40 and 0.82 ng/dl in thethird. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) reference values were between 0.23 and 4.18 UI/mlin the first trimester, 1.78 and 3.89 UI/ml in the second and 2.01 and 4.30 UI/ml in the third.T3-l values were between 2.33 and 3.84 pg/ml in the first trimester, between 2.04 and 3.51pg/ml in the second and between 1.99 and 3.46 pg/ml in the third. Conclusion: Bearing the 3rd and 97th percentiles in mind, the reference ranges in our population were far below those recommended by our reference laboratory. In view of these results, these values should be redefined to avoid incorrect diagnoses of hyperthyroxinemia in healthypregnant women (AU)