Keshan disease and Kaschin-Beck disease in China: Is there still selenium deficiency?

摘要

Keshan disease and Kaschin-Beck disease were previously found in about 15% of 2000 counties in China, where selenium (Se) was deficient. Due to rapid economic growth in China, patients affected by these two diseases are now only sparsely distributed among a few locations in former disease-affected areas. What caused the reduction of the two Se-deficiency-related diseases? Responsible factors may include improved Se intake from food growth in soil amended with Se, increased food diversity due to increased income, or enhanced Se-supplementation to the population. The Chuxiong area in Yunnan Province, and the Yongshou area in Shaanxi Province are a few areas where residents were severely affected by Keshan disease and Kaschin-Beck disease in the past. Many studies were conducted in the early 1980s. Thus, a comparative study at these two areas provided a clear picture of the evolution of Se deficiency through food chains in the last 30 years.