Summary
This study analysed archived serum samples from Ethiopia's 2015 National Micronutrient Survey to characterise population selenium status and map regional vulnerability. The national median serum selenium concentration was 87.7 μg L⁻¹, with 35.5% of the population classified as selenium deficient. Marked spatial dependence was identified, with highest selenium concentrations in the North-East, East and along the Rift Valley, and lowest concentrations in the North-West and West, indicating that targeted interventions should prioritise these high-risk regions.
UK applicability
The findings are primarily relevant to understanding selenium deficiency in low-income settings with variable soil selenium availability. The UK maintains adequate population selenium status through diverse food sources and agricultural practices; however, the spatial analytical methods and geostatistical approach may inform monitoring of micronutrient status in vulnerable UK populations.
Key measures
Serum selenium concentration (μg L⁻¹) measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry; prevalence of selenium deficiency defined as serum Se < 70 μg L⁻¹; spatial statistical modelling of Se status by region
Outcomes reported
The study measured serum selenium concentrations in a nationally representative sample of 3,269 Ethiopians and mapped spatial patterns of selenium status across the country. It identified the prevalence of selenium deficiency and regional variations in population Se status.
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