Vitamin A, vitamin E and selenium status in an aged Finnish male population.

Vitamin A (retinol), vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) and selenium concentrations in serum were studied during the autumn season (October and November) in two Finnish male populations aged 65-84 years and living either in eastern or southwestern Finland. The mean vitamin A concentration was higher in south-western, but the mean selenium concentration was higher in eastern Finland. Mean vitamin A concentrations did not differ between age groups, but in the south-west highest vitamin E and selenium concentrations were found among the youngest population. A severe vitamin A deficiency (below 300 micrograms/l) was found only in 3 (1%) men in the east and 4 (1%) men in the south-west, and a mild deficiency (300-399 micrograms/l) in 11 (4%) men in the east and 16 (4%) men in the south-west. Vitamin E deficiency after the correction by serum total cholesterol (below 2 mg/l/g/l) was found only in 3 (1%) men in the east and 1 (0%) man in the south-west, and low values (2.0-2.9 mg/l/g/l) were found in 13 (4%) men in the east and 34 (9%) men in the south-west. A severe deficiency of selenium (below 46 micrograms/l) was found in 10 (3%) men in the east and 15 (4%) men in the south-west, while a mild deficiency (46-69 micrograms/l) was found in 140 (45%) men in the east and 197 (52%) men in the south-west. The overall vitamin A and vitamin E status of elderly Finnish men was relatively adequate, while severe or mild deficiencies of selenium were common.