Serum selenium, vitamin A, vitamin E and cholesterol concentrations in Finnish and Japanese postmenopausal women.

Serum concentrations of vitamins A and E, selenium, and cholesterol were measured in 30 Finnish and 30 Japanese postmenopausal women. While both groups had identical serum vitamin A levels, the other serum factors differed significantly between the groups, the Finns having higher serum vitamin E and cholesterol and lower serum selenium levels. Adjusted to serum cholesterol, which correlated significantly with vitamin E in both groups, the vitamin E levels were, however, similar in the groups. The differences in the serum levels of these nutritional factors may be associated with the differences in the risk of coronary heart disease and cancer between Finnish and Japanese populations.