Summary
This matched-pair longitudinal study, published in The Lancet in 1982, investigated the relationship between serum selenium levels and cardiovascular outcomes in a Finnish population. The study is widely cited as early epidemiological evidence that low serum selenium is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular death and myocardial infarction. Finland at the time had notably low population selenium status, lending particular relevance to the findings.
UK applicability
Finland's historically low soil and dietary selenium levels make direct comparison with the UK partial, though the UK also has relatively low dietary selenium intakes due to low-selenium soils and reduced consumption of selenium-rich imported wheat. The findings have informed broader European discussions on selenium sufficiency and cardiovascular health.
Key measures
Serum selenium concentration (µg/L); cardiovascular mortality; incidence of myocardial infarction; matched-pair risk ratios
Outcomes reported
The study examined the association between serum selenium concentrations and subsequent cardiovascular death and myocardial infarction in a matched-pair longitudinal design. It assessed whether low serum selenium was a significant risk factor for cardiovascular events.
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