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Fish arsenic may influence human blood arsenic, selenium, and T4:T3 ratio

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Abstract

The effects of an arsenic-rich fish diet and selenium (Se) supplementation on blood arsenic (As), Se, and thyroid hormones were studied in 32 women divided into four equal groups. Groups 1 and 4 received 400 µg Se-methionine daily, group 2 received 400 µg selenite daily, and group 3 received placebo tablets for 15 wk. In addition, groups 1–3 increased their fish intake, eating at least three fish dinners weekly. Mean blood Se concentrations (initially 1.68 ± 0.24 µmol/L) increased twofold in the Se-methionine groups (p < 0.0001) and by 32% in the selenite group (p < 0.01). Group means of blood As concentrations increased by 63% (p < 0.01), 50% (p < 0.01), 106% (p < 0.01), and 29% (p < 0.05) in the four groups, respectively. Analyzed As intake from duplicate portions of consumed fish correlated with final blood As concentrations (r=0.85, p < 0.001, n=32). In the group not receiving Se, there was a positive correlation between final blood As concentrations and plasma T4 : T3 ratio (r=0.80, p < 0.02, n=8). Initially, blood As concentrations correlated negatively with both T3 and T4 in plasma, but this correlation disappeared upon Se supplementation. The results demonstrate that increased intake of fish may influence blood As concentrations and that circulating thyroid hormones may be influenced by Se-As interactions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 4404 Nydalen, 0403, Oslo, Norway

    Helle M. Meltzer

  2. Directorate of Fisheries, Institute of Nutrition, P.O. Box 185, N-5002, Bergen, Norway

    Amund Maage

  3. Norwegian Bureau of Statistics, P.O. Box 8131 Dep, 0033, Oslo, Norway

    Trond A. Ydersbond

  4. The Hormone Laboratory, Aker University Hospital, Trondheimsveien 235, 0514, Oslo, Norway

    Egil Haug

  5. The Cancer Registry of Norway, Fr. Nansens vei 17, 0369, Oslo, Norway

    Eystein Glattre

  6. Institute for Nutrition Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1046 Blindern, N-0316, Oslo, Norway

    Halvor Holm

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Meltzer, H.M., Maage, A., Ydersbond, T.A. et al. Fish arsenic may influence human blood arsenic, selenium, and T4:T3 ratio. Biol Trace Elem Res 90, 83–98 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1385/BTER:90:1-3:83

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