Serum selenium and zinc concentrations in morbid obesity. Comparison of controls and patients with jejunoileal bypass.

The concentrations of serum selenium and zinc (both in micromoles per litre) were determined in 18 patients 5-12 years after jejunoileal bypass and in 13 controls with untreated morbid obesity. Selenium concentrations were significantly lower in the operated patients than among controls, whereas there was no significant difference with regard to zinc. Ninety-five per cent confidence limits for the median difference between pre- and post-operative concentrations were 0.03-0.41 with regard to selenium and -0.3 to 2.7 with regard to zinc. Even though little is known about the clinical consequences of chronic selenium deficiency, substitution might prove beneficial.