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Background: Adequate serum level of zinc and selenium is required for normal metabolic performance and successful fertility. The present study was conducted to evaluate the association of serum zinc and selenium in early stage of gestation with the incidence of miscarriage in Iranian women.
Materials and methods: One hundred two females were studied in three matched groups. Group 1 consisted of 34 females with miscarriage, healthy parturients (n=34) and non-pregnant females were included in the second and third groups, respectively. Serum zinc and selenium were analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy.
Result: TSlight increment in zinc level of healthy parturients was observed in comparison with females with miscarriage however, this difference did not reach the statistical significance. Meanwhile, zinc level of non-pregnant females did not show a significant difference with other groups. There was no significant difference between the selenium level between groups.
Conclusion: Serum zinc and selenium level of all three groups of Iranian females were within normal ranges, even higher value for selenium was obtained indicating regional variation in consumption of selenium in diet in different regions of the world. Miscarriage is not related to diet alone in Iranian females.

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Background: Selenium is an essential trace nutrient for humans and animals. It is required for normal testicular development and spermatogenesis. In the present experimental study, correlations between seminal plasma glutathione peroxidase enzyme activity (as selenium status) and semen parameters are evaluated in 200 males.
Materials and methods: Semen analysis was performed according to World Health Organization guidelines. Totally, 200 males were subdivided into 5 groups as normospermic, oligospermic, asthenozospermic, azospermic and varicocele groups according to their spermograms. Plasma seminal glutathione peroxidase enzyme activity was determined by Kit (Randox, Germany).
 Results: The results showed that glutathione peroxidase enzyme activity is higher in normospermic than oligospermic, asthenozospermic, azospermic and varicocele groups. Meanwhile, there were an inverse significant correlations between glutathione peroxidase enzyme activity and plasma seminal fructose concentration, white blood cell, tail defects of sperm, coiled tail sperms and short tail sperms. On the other hand, the present data showed that there are positive correlations between vitality, sperm count, motility and normal morphology.
Conclusion: The present study indicated that measurement of glutathione peroxidase enzyme activity as selenium status could be a good marker for evaluation of male infertility.

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Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetically disease with different respiratory and gastrointestinal organ involvement. Because of gastrointestinal tract involvement, patients have mal-absorption for vitamins and mineral elements for example vitamin A, D, E and trace elements such as Selenium (Se), Zinc (Zn) and Copper (Cu) have low serum level in CF patients in different studies. The goal of this study is to define relation between serum level of this elements and severity of respiratory and gastrointestinal tract involvement in these patients.
Materials and methods: This cross sectional study performed on 39 cystic fibrosis patients admitted in pediatric ward of Masih Daneshvari hospital, Tehran, Iran. Serum levels of Vitamin A, D and E, Selenium, Zinc and Copper deficiency were studied.
 Results: Serum level of Vitamin A and D were lower than normal values. Also, 3 cases (7.68%) had serum level of Zinc lower than normal values.
Conclusion: CF patients are susceptible to have deficiencies of fat soluble vitamins and trace elements such as Selenium and Zinc because of mal-absorption. It seems that a perfect diet and nutritional components are helpful in prevention of these problems.
Keywords: Cystic fibrosis, Zinc, Copper, Selenium, Vitamin.

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Background: Cypermethrin is an insecticide that is widely used in pest control programs. Previous studies have pointed out its harmful effects on the male reproductive system. Therefore, in the present study, vitamin E and selenium were used to protect the testicles from the damage of this poison.
Materials and methods: For this study, 42 adult male Wistar rats were prepared and divided into 6 groups as follows: Control group (without any additive substances); Cyper group (received cypermethrin by gavage at 30 mg/kg for 42 days); Cyper+Vit E group (received cypermethrin in the previous method and simultaneously receiving vitamin E at 100 mg/kg by gavage); Cyper+Se group (received cypermethrin in the mentioned method and simultaneously selenium at 0.5 mg/kg  by gavage); Cyper+Vit E+Se group (received cypermethrin, vitamin E and selenium by the above methods) and Vit E +Se group (received only vitamin E and selenium by the above mentioned methods). At the end of the course, the animals were weighed and then anesthetized to take blood to measure hormonal and oxidative stress parameters. Also, tissue slides at 5 microns thick were prepared and stained with H&E and Mallory's trichrome methods.
Results: In the cypermethrin group, the body weight, as well as epididymal weights, testicular cell population, testosterone, LH, FSH levels and also antioxidant enzyme levels were decreased but MDA level was increased. Vitamin E or selenium administration alone could not reverse these changes, but combination of them could induce protection of testis, completely.
Conclusion: The combination of vitamin E and selenium has a synergistic and protective effect against tissue and oxidative damage caused by cypermethrin in the rat’testis