A nonlinear association between total selenium intake and blood selenium concentration: An analysis based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2018

Abstract Diets are the major sources of selenium (Se) and biomonitoring Se is used for the assessment of Se status. The present study explored the association between Se intake and blood Se concentration from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2018 data for optimizing Se reference intakes among American adults and interpreted the data in the context of exposure guidance values. Weighted linear regression models were conducted to evaluate the association between Se intake and blood Se concentration. Restricted cubic spline models were employed to explore the dose–response association between total Se intake and blood Se concentration. Blood Se concentrations were compared to biomonitoring equivalents established for exposure guidance values. For gender, race, educational status, poverty income ratio, body mass index, smoking status, dietary Se intake, and total Se intake, significant differences were observed among quartiles of blood Se concentration. There was no significant difference for age and alcohol use. There was a positive association between dietary Se intake and blood Se concentration although the association was not statistically significant following the adjustments for covariates. When the associations between total Se intake and blood Se concentration were assessed, no statistically significant relationship was found. The restricted cubic spline supported a significant nonlinear association between total Se intake and blood Se concentration with/without the adjustments of covariates. The present work displayed a baseline for Se exposure among American adults. Considering the sex difference in dietary Se and blood Se concentration, it is necessary to establish gender‐based Se reference intakes.