Decreased serum selenium and magnesium levels in drunkenness arrestees.

Serum levels of selenium magnesium, copper, zinc and iron were studied in chronic drunkenness arrestees and a healthy control group. The mean serum concentrations of selenium and magnesium were both significantly lower (P less than 0.01) in drunkenness arrestees than in the control subjects. The mean alcohol intake was 190 g of absolute alcohol daily in drunkenness arrestees and 14 g in controls. The erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase concentrations of the study groups did not support poor selenium intake as a principal cause of low selenium concentration in the serum.