[Monitoring of selenium content in some food of residents of the Khabarovsk].

The development of about 40 diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases, is associated with a lack of selenium (Se) consumption. According to the previously obtained data, Khabarovsk Krai is characterized by low human selenium status in various age groups and low content in most foods, that is the main reason for the population Se deficit in Khabarovsk territory. To study the content of Se in some foods in Khabarovsk in the comparative aspect. Study design: prospective. The content of Se in the basic products collected in the commercial network of Khabarovsk [wheat, rye-wheat bread (48 samples), chicken eggs - 24 samples] was determined, the choice of these products was justified by their maximum availability for all segments of the population. The Se level was determined by fluorimetric method. According to previous studies, we have found low Se content in donors' blood serum and basic food products in the Khabarovsk territory, which indicated the need to for monitoring and correcting Se status. Eating exclusively local products and the influence of geochemical specificity of the area were the main reasons for the development of Se deficit, because the status of a person completely depended on the inflow of nutrient from the diet. According to the monitoring data for 10 years, Se content in wheat bread decreased more than 3 fold, in rye bread - more than twice. There was 2-fold decrease in Se content in a chicken egg. On average, residents of Khabarovsk with 1 chicken egg received only 3.7-22.6% of the adequate level of Se consumption. The selenium content in an egg enriched with this trace element was 15.85±4.3 µg (or 25.5±6.4 µg/100 g), which is twice as high as the average Se content in a standard egg. The dynamic assessment of Se content in products of daily demand of residents of the Khabarovsk territory indicates a critically low content of the element in bread and chicken eggs; the established level of Se in foods does not contribute to the accumulation of the element in the human body. The obtained data should become one of the main components of the regional program of optimization of Se status of Khabarovsk population.

[Selenium in food crops].

Biofortification of food crops with selenium is considered to be one of the most effective and economically beneficial way in the human selenium status optimization. At the same time as biologically activity of selenium is determined not only by a dose but also by chemical forms of the element it seems especially important to reveal peculiarities of their biosynthesis by different agricultural crops. The review presents the last data on the chemical forms of selenium in food products including food crops. Effect of agricultural crops biofortification with selenium on accumulation of special chemical forms of the element is discussed. Special attention is paid to representatives of Allium and Brassica species, capable to accumulate high concentrations of methylated derivatives of the element known to possess intensive anticarcinogenic acitivity. Selenium metabolism in hyperaccumulators and non-accumulators of selenium is discussed. Possible beneficial effects of selenium enriched cereals and vegetables on human health are presented. Success of Finland in improvement of human health via global utilization of fertilizers, fortified with selenium is indicated. The most important functional food products based on selenium fortified vegetables produced in different countries and developed in Russia are described.

[Evaluation of selenium consumption by Mongolian residents].

Selenium is one of the essential elements which adequate consumption is strictly necessary for human health. Despite unfavorable geographical position of Mongolia and registered cases of selenium deficiency diseases among domestic animals in some provinces of the country there are still no concrete data of selenium content in objects of the environment in this region. The aim of the present work was the evaluation of selenium consumption levels by adults from different provinces of Mongolia and the development of methods of prophylactic for the selenium status optimization. Detection of selenium deficiency in Mongolia was caused by inadequate selenium content in foodstuffs. Determined mean consumption levels were equal to 41.8±4.9 µg/day for males and 34.1±3.1 µg/day for females. The main reason of low selenium content in the diet was its deficiency in native foodstuffs: selenium concentrations in meat of domestic animals µg/kg d.w.) reached 109-296 in beef, 94-200 in mutton, 120-225 in horseflesh and 124-197 in goat's flash, values did not differ between each other statistically (p>0.05). The exception were samples of horseflash with selenium concentration exceeding 400 µg/kg d.w. from Gov-Altai province. Selenium content in wheat was in the range 6-36µg/kg d.w., with the lowest levels in Dornod, Ucs and Selenge provinces. Selenium content in eggs was equal 6.7-7.8 µg/egg. The correction of selenium deficiency is recommended to achieve using preparations of Astragalus Mongolicus from Bulgan province with selenium concentration 278±26µg/kg d.w. Besides this utilization of Mongolicum Tricholoma Mushrooms (from the vicinity of Ulaanbaatar and from Zavkhan province) seems to be highly promising due to high selenium concentrations (616±26 µg/kg d.w. and 352±17µg/kg d.w. respectively).

[Contribution of fish consumption to human iodine and selenium status in Moscow and Moscow Region].

Fish is known to-be a significant source of iodine and selenium for human beings. The aim of the present work was evaluation of iodine and selenium consumption levels with fish by residents of Moscow Region and Moscow. 400 Residents of Moscow and Moscow Region (100 children of 2-6 years age, 100 adults of 20-35 years age, 100 students of 18-22 years age and 100 elderly persons of 50-75 years age were inspected using values of ioduria and Se status determination. I concentration was determined by voltamperometric method, Se - via semiquantitative peroxide test. The values of ioduria for the inhabitants corresponded to moderate (Moscow Region, ioduria median 52,5 µg/l) and light (Moscow, ioduria mediane 67 µg/l) I deficiency with marginal Se deficiency in both cases (79-90% of persons had a negative peroxide test parameters, corresponding to serum Se level >90 µg/l). Though main fish species used by the population (humpback, trout, steelhead) contain relatively high levels of Se (505±46, 376±32, 413±22 µg/kg) and I (187±66, 290±102, 330±116 µg/kg), they are not able to maintain high I and Se status of the inhabitants due to low consumption level. I consumption with fish, being used once per week, reached 21 µg, Se - 35 µg per week. Up to 40% of students and 28% of elderly do not eat fish at all. Children of 2-6 years old residing in Moscow Region compose a specialgroup of ecological risk of I deficiencypossessing significant I deficiency 3 times more frequently than children from Moscow.

[Selenium content in meat and poultry in Orenburg region].

Selenium content in beef, pork and poultry from Orenburg Region has been investigated. Regions with low (beef < 112 mcg/kg, pork--about 200 mcg/kg, poultry < 127 mcg/kg), medium and high (beef > 300 mcg/kg; pork--about 600 mcg/kg; poultry--170-180 mcg/kg) selenium levels are indicated. Positive correlations between selenium content in meat and soil are demonstrated (beef/soil +0.558, p < 0.001; pork/soil +0.557, p < 0.001; poultry/soil +0.389, p < 0.05). Meat contribution to selenium consumption is equal to: beef--4.6%, pork--6%, poultry--2.6%.

[Drinking water quality indices in the Orenburg Region].

The quality of underground waters from 22 areas of the Orenburg Region was studied from the values of mineralization and pH and the amounts of the ions of Se, Cl, Pb, Cd, F, and phenols. High fluorine ion concentrations (5-12 mg/l), high mineralization (> 1 g/l), and alkalinity (pH > 8.0) were shown to be human risk factors in a considerable number of areas. Districts with cadmium, lead, and phenol ion-polluted underground waters were identified. The amount of selenium in the drinking water (18-319 ng/l) and in the sera of donors in Orenburg, Buzuluk, and Orsk (86-97 microg/l) fails to support the data available in the literature on environmental selenium pollution and is comparable with the relevant data for the Moscow Region.

[The human selenium status in Astrakhan region].

Serum selenium concentration of 220 residents in 11 Astrakhan districts was investigated, the concentration range being 87-133 microg/l. The lowest values were typical for Krasnoyarsk district possessing sandy soils with low content of humus. The highest human selenium status was demonstrated for Volga delta with alluvial saturated salty soils. Correlation coefficient between serum selenium and soils selenium was +0.6226.

[Content of biologically active substances--selenium, flavonoids, ascorbic acid and chlorophyllin of Allium ursinum L and Allium victorialis L].

Accumulation of selenium, flavonoids, chlorophyll and vitamin C by Allium ursinum L. and Allium victorialis L. are studied. Allium victorialis L. is shown to accumulate twice more selenium and flavonoids compared to Allium ursinum L. Increase of insolation elevates the concentration of the element, flavonoids and ascorbic acid in plants. Selenium concentration in Allium victorialis L. after selenium fertilization is higher compared to Allium ursinum L. The results indicate the significance of Allium victorialis L. as a source of natural antioxidants: selenium, flavonoids and ascorbic acid.

[Effect of sweet pepper, enriched with selenium, on the transplantable Ehrlich carcinoma in mice].

Effect of sweet pepper enriched and non-enriched with Se on Ehrlich carcinoma growth at Balb/c mice was investigated. 1000 mg/kg of both preparations of sweet pepper (per os administration for mice of 9 months age) inhibited an early stage of tumour growth on 42-62% and 37-65% respectively. No effect on tumour growth was registered for 4 months mice.

[Selenium content in human in Sakha Republic].

Sakha Republic is considered to be endemic selenium deficient and poorly investigated region. Analysis of selenium in human sera, hair and nails revealed strongly decreased values. Low selenium concentrations were registered also in meat of domestic animals, fresh-water fish, mushrooms weight, agaricus campester. The possibility of the human selenium content improvement is discussed via import of grain with high selenium concentration.

[Walnuts as of essenciale trace element selenium].

Accumulation levels of selenium by kernel and shell of walnuts, grown in excess and moderate Se deficiency are presented. The concentration range is found to be 170-600 mg/kg with 62% of total selenium corresponding to labile water soluble forms. A direct correlation is found between kernel (X) and shell (Y) selenium content described by an equation Y = 0,5183X. 83% of shell selenium is presented by water soluble forms.

[Selenium content in bread of Orenburg region].

Selenium content in wheat and rye bread from 35 districts of Orenburg region has been estimated. The results indicate heterogeneity of selenium distribution and the existence of decreased selenium levels in the West of the region. Different factors affecting selenium accumulation by cereals are discussed: heavy metals pollution, Ni and Cu mining, soil salinization.

[The human selenium status in the Far East of Russia].

Serum selenium concentration was determined for 426 inhabitants of Khabarovsk land, Jewish district and several towns of Sakhalin, Sakha republic, Magadan and Kamchatka regions. Concentration range was found to be 69,4-116,9 microg/L with the lowest values being typical for Komsomolsk-na-Amure and Nikolaevsk-na-Amure (about 70 microg/L), the highest - for Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (125 microg/L). Mean selenium consumption for Khabarovsk residents was 80,9 microg/L, cereals, meat and fish being the main selenium sources (33,30 and 29% respectively).

[To 20-years anniversary of Chernobyl catastrophe: an attempt to study the vitamin, calcium, iron and selenium status of children and adult population in Slavutich and to correct elicited deficiencies].

The article concisely illustrates the vitamin and mineral state of population of town of Slavutich, including personal of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station, children of pre-school age and pregnancy women, studied in 1992. Vitamins and minerals deficiency in the main of C and B vitamins and selenium was revealed in all the studied groups. Appropriate measures were developed and introduced to eliminate the detected dusturbances; but however some unsolved problems remained. Taking into account the forthcoming 20th anniversary of Chernobyl disarter, the authors of the come back to considering the obtained data in hope to atlract attention of medical scientific and public to the remained unsolved problems of micronutrient deficiency.

[Hygienic characteristics of children's sports-and-playing grounds in Moscow].

The hygienic state of 280 children's sports-and-playing grounds was studied in 9 Moscow okrugs in accordance with the proportion of vandalism and the level of greening, noise, and environmental pollution caused by motor transport. Technogenic load on children on the children's grounds was shown to be higher in Moscow than that in its Region, the levels of dust, chlorine ions, lead, and potassium were 10, 3, 5, and 2 times higher in Moscow than in the region. By significantly decreasing the pollution, the minimum distance of children's grounds from a road or a car park should be 15 m. It was found that 33-50% of the children's grounds in Moscow did not meet this criterion. The level noise more than 40 dB caused by motor transport on the children's grounds was noted in 53% of cases. The level of poor greening was directly correlated with that of noise. The problem associated with the durability of constructions for children's grounds (the broken constructions were an average of about 12.5%) may be solved, by using fiberglass materials.

Selenium concentration in drinking water in Central Region Mongolia / Монголын Анагаах Ухаан

Background@#Mongolia is characterized by restricted sources of drinking water and intensive water pollution due to high rates of urbanization, mining industry development, enormous amount of livestock, and ever-growing attempts in domestic production of cereals and vegetables. Among others, Se is the least studied element in Mongolian water resources. @*Goal@#To assess the selenium content of Mongolia’s drinking water depending on its geographical location and to identify areas of environmental risk associated with the chemical composition of the water.@*Materials and Methods@#In the summer of 2017, water samples were collected from 5 aimags (Dornogovi, Tuv, Selenge, Umnugovi, Arkhangai) and Ulaanbaatar city and sent to Moscow, Russia for analysis. Of the collected samples, 19 were groundwater (wells, wells, springs) and 2 were surface water (Tuul River, Selenge River).@*Results@#Based on fluorimetric method of analysis, the first results on Se levels in drinking water of five aimags, Ulaanbaatar, and Erdenet were obtained. Uneven distribution of Se in Mongolia was manifested, the highest Se concentrations being typical for the southern resources (up to 18,600 μg/L) and the lowest, for the Northern ones (up to 0.022 μg/L). ICP-MS data of Al, As, B, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, I, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Si, Sn, Sr, V, and Zn contents indicate poly-microelementosis existence in the South of Mongolia (Dorno-Gobi aimag) where ground water is characterized by elevated levels of As and extremely high levels of Se, Li, Na, F, Cl, B, and nitrates ions, exceeding maximum permissible levels by 1.86; 4.3; 3.1; 3.1; 2.7; 3.4; and 1.8 times respectively. Toxic concentrations of Se in groundwater of Dorno-Gobi aimag contradict with the published low human serum Se and low content of the element in horseflesh that suggests the possible effect of the above pollutants on Se bioavailability. @*Conclusion@#Revealed phenomenon and mosaic distribution of heavy metals in areas with high and low Se content in water resources indicate the need of direct search for Se and other pollutant transfer in food chain in various ecological loading conditions, creation of a map of Se distribution in water resources of other Mongolian regions, and large-scale evaluation of the human poly-elemental status.

The human selenium status in 27 regions of Russia.

Russia is the largest nation in the world and it has vastly different climatic and geochemical conditions. The human selenium status is determined mainly by the selenium intake from foods, whose concentration is subject to geochemical, geological and temporal factors. The data on the selenium status of populations in Russia are scarce and sporadic. This review presents the most recent selenium data acquired using adequate quality assurance measures. Serum samples were obtained from 2462 healthy blood donors between 1990-1996 from 125 locations representing 27 different regions of Russia. Samples of wheat flour and dried milk were also analyzed from most regions. The mean serum selenium concentration per region varied from 0.80 mumol/l in the western regions (Pskov) to 1.84 mumol/l in the easternmost regions (Sakhalin). A low (0.76-1.00 mumol/l) serum selenium concentration was found in only 6% of the locations. In 88% of the locations the mean serum selenium concentrations were moderate (1.01-1.40 mumol/l) and the highest values, > 1.45 mumol/l were found in eight towns. Wheat flour selenium concentrations varied widely from 44 to 557 micrograms/kg depending on the origin. The low values were either domestic or European and the high values of American or Australian origin. A high correlation between serum selenium and wheat flour (r = 0.79) suggests that the selenium status in most instances is determined by high selenium in wheat. Overtly very low or high serum selenium levels were not found in the 27 regions studied in Russia.

[Mineral content in the wild onion species and their nutritive value]. / Mineral'nyi sostav dikikh lukov i ikh pishchevaia tsennost'.

The accumulation of 11 microelements (Fe, Zn, Cu, Co, Mn, Ni, Pb, Cd, Sr, Cr, and Se) by 7 wild onion species of the genus Allium was studied. A. flavescens Bess possesses the higher accumulating capability; it accumulates five of eleven microelements (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Se) with biological accumulation coefficient (BAC) exceeding 1 and also contains high levels of Fe, Co, and Mn. These features enable this species to be the most promising for the nutrition adjustment of human commons with above-mentioned microelements primarily with Cr, which content in 100 g onion leaves achieves 84% of commons. A. fistulosum L., A. odorum L., and broad-leaved A. nutans form specifically accumulate Cu, Zn, and Se. A. montanum Schmidt is characterized by the accumulation of Zn. A. angulosum and A. schoenoprasum are xharacterized by the accumulation of Se. The broad-leaved forms of A. schoenoprasum L., A. nutans L., and A. odorum L. compared with their narrow-leaved forms accumulate more amounts of Zn and Cu.

[Selenium in blood serum and in tumors of patients with benign and malignant bone neoplasms]. / Selen v syvorotke krovi i v opukholi u bol'nykh s dobrokachestvennymi i zlokachestvennymi novoobrazovanimi kostei.

The content of selenium in the serum and bones was compared in persons having no neoplasms and in patients with malignant and benign bone tumors. The mean level of selenium in the healthy femoral bone was 81 micrograms/kg, with more predominant accumulation in the epiphysis than in the metaphysis and diaphysis and with higher concentrations in the periosteum than in the cambial layer. The normal mean bone/serum selenium ratio was 0.74. This index varied 0.8 to 5.1 in patients with benign tumors and 2.3 to 10.0 in those with malignant tumors. Benign tumors were characterized by significant multiple variations of tumor selenium levels depending on the type of an abnormality with maximally observed values in giant-cell tumor. In patients with various osteosarcomas, the mean selenium content was decreased to 71% in the serum and increased up to 300% in the tumor. The examination of the impact of the type of non-adjuvant therapy on serum selenium levels in patients with bone tumors indicated a negative selenium effect in the application of radiation therapy and a positive selenium effect in the transfusion of bone marrow suspension and in the use of platidium or SAR-regimen therapy.

[Pattern of selenium distribution in tomatoes Lycopersicum esculentum Mill]. / Spetsifika raspredeleniia selena v tomatakh Lycopersicum esculentum Mill

We studied the pattern of selenium accumulation in Lycopersicum esculentum Mill plants in conditions of root and extra-root dressing with selenium. At the background of general trend towards predominant selenium accumulation in the fruit coat, a higher level of the microelement accumulation in the pulp was observed for selenates (Se+6) than selenites (Se+4). Application of Epin growth factor favored selenium accumulation in the plants; its concentration in the pulp was comparable to the concentration after selenate application, while the level of the microelement accumulation in the fruit coat, leaves, and roots was 2.2, 2.4, and 1.4 times lower, respectively. Combined application of Epin and sodium selenate had virtually no effect on selenium accumulation in the pulp but increased the microelement content in the fruit coat and roots. Biological significance of the observed "boundary effect" of selenium as a manifestation of plant antioxidant protection is discussed.