Selenium has a wide range of pleiotropic effects, influencing redox homeostasis, thyroid hormone metabolism, and protecting from oxidative stress and inflammation. Serum selenium levels are reduced in the older population.

to investigate the association of serum selenium levels with all-cause mortality in a sample of community-dwelling older adults.

Data are from the ‘Invecchiamento e Longevità nel Sirente’ (Aging and Longevity in the Sirente geographic area, ilSIRENTE) study, a prospective cohort study that collected information on individuals aged 80 years and older living in an Italian mountain community (n=347). The main outcome was risk of death after ten years of follow-up.

Participants were classified according to the median value of selenium (105.3 μg/L) in two groups: high selenium and low selenium.

A total of 248 deaths occurred during a 10-year follow-up. In the unadjusted model, low levels of selenium was associated with increased mortality (HR, 0.66; 95% CI 0.51-0.85). After adjusting for potential confounders the relationship remained significant (HR, 0.71; 95% CI 0.54-0.92).

Low serum levels of selenium are associated with reduced survival in elderly, independently of age and other clinical and functional variables.