Correlations between diet structure and serum indicators among population in Kashin-Beck disease area in Tibet

Objective To determine serum total protein(TP),total cholesterol(TG),calcium(Ca),zinc(Zn) and selenium(Sc) in a population from Kashin-Beck disease area in Tibet and to evaluate the relationship between the occurrence of Kashin-Beck disease and nutrition status.Methods Blood samples were collected from the population in Kashin-Beck disease area and detected for seurm TP,TG,Ca,Zn,and Se.The correlation analysis for the prevalence of Kashin-Beck disease and nutrition status was conducted.Results Serum TG,Zn,and Se levels in the population were lower than the normal,especially for Se level(26.87±28.30 μg/L,being less than 50% of normal level).The Se level was lower among the people with Kashin-Beck disease(17.52±14.54 μg/L) compared to the people without Kashin-Beck disease(30.47±31.34 μg/L)(t=5.035,P<0.001).The Se level was significantly lower in the people only consumming local tsampa(18.66±19.64 μg/L)compared to the people consuming at least two staple foods(33.23±32.12 μg/L)(t=-6.354,P<0.001).The frequencies of meat,eggs,milk,and vegetable consumption were related to TP,TG,Ca,Zn,and Se.Conclusion Except for the deficiency of Se in the environment,other pathogenic factors for Kashin-Beck disease exist in Tibet.The poor nutrition status in the population due to unreasonable diet structures might be an important risk factor for the occurrence of Kashin-Beck disease.