Selenium deficiency

Selenium deficiency

Selenium deficiency is relatively rare in healthy well-nourished individuals. It can occur in patients with severely compromised intestinal function, those undergoing total parenteral nutrition, and also [ [http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/71/2/590 Effect of micronutrient status on natural killer cell immune function in healthy free-living subjects aged >=90 y1 - Ravaglia et al. 71 (2): 590 - American Journal of Clinical... ] ] on advanced aged people (over 90). Alternatively, people dependent on food grown from selenium-deficient soil are also at risk. In the USA, the Dietary Reference Intake for adults is 55 µg/day. In the UK it is 75 µg/day for adult males and 60 µg/day for adult females. 55 µg/day recommendation is based on full expression of plasma glutathione peroxidase. Selenoprotein Pcite journal |author=Papp LV, Lu J, Holmgren A, Khanna KK |title=From selenium to selenoproteins: synthesis, identity, and their role in human health |journal=Antioxid. Redox Signal. |volume=9 |issue=7 |pages=775–806 |year=2007 |pmid=17508906 |doi=10.1089/ars.2007.1528] is a better indicator of selenium nutritional status, and full expression of it would require more than 66 µg/day.cite journal |author=Xia Y, Hill KE, Byrne DW, Xu J, Burk RF |title=Effectiveness of selenium supplements in a low-selenium area of China |journal=Am. J. Clin. Nutr. |volume=81 |issue=4 |pages=829–34 |year=2005 |pmid=15817859 |doi=]

Presentation

Selenium deficiency can lead to Keshan disease, which is potentially fatal. Selenium deficiency also contributes (along with iodine deficiency) to Kashin-Beck disease. [http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp92-c3.pdf DRAFT ] ] The primary symptom of Keshan disease is myocardial necrosis, leading to weakening of the heart. Kashin-Beck disease results in atrophy, degeneration and necrosis of cartilage tissue. [ [http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/339/16/1112 NEJM - Kashin-Beck Osteoarthropathy in Rural Tibet in Relation to Selenium and Iodine Status ] ] Keshan disease also makes the body more susceptible to illness caused by other nutritional, biochemical, or infectious diseases.

Selenium is also necessary for the conversion of the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4) into its more active counterpart, triiodothyronine, and as such a deficiency can cause symptoms of hypothyroidism, including extreme fatigue, mental slowing, goitre, cretinism and recurrent miscarriage.

Epidemiology and prevention

These diseases are most common in certain parts of China where the soil is extremely deficient in selenium. Studies in Jiangsu Province of China have indicated a reduction in the prevalence of these diseases by taking selenium supplements.

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Selenium deficiency — Deficiency of the essential mineral selenium causes Keshan disease, a fatal form of cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle) first observed in Keshan province in China and since found elsewhere. According to the National Academy of Sciences,… …   Medical dictionary

  • Selenium — (pronEng|səˈliniəm) is a chemical element with the atomic number 34, represented by the chemical symbol Se, an atomic mass of 78.96. It is a nonmetal, chemically related to sulfur and tellurium, and rarely occurs in its elemental state in nature …   Wikipedia

  • vitamin E–selenium deficiency syndrome — a deficiency disease of pigs whose diet is low in vitamin E and selenium, most commonly rapidly growing, recently weaned piglets. It usually manifests as either hepatosis dietetica or mulberry heart disease, and affected animals may die suddenly… …   Medical dictionary

  • Deficiency, selenium — Deficiency of the essential mineral selenium causes Keshan disease, a fatal form of cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle) first observed in Keshan province in China and since found elsewhere. According to the National Academy of Sciences,… …   Medical dictionary

  • vitamin E–selenium deficiency — see under syndrome …   Medical dictionary

  • Selenium — An essential mineral that is a component of a key antioxidant enzyme, glutathione reductase, in tissue respiration. Deficiency of selenium causes Keshan disease, a fatal form of cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle) first observed in… …   Medical dictionary

  • selenium — n. a trace element that is an essential component of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, which catalyses the oxidation of glutathione by hydrogen peroxide. It thus has important antioxidant properties. Dietary deficiency of selenium results in… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • Zinc deficiency — POOPO Classification and external resources TOOTO ICD 10 E60 …   Wikipedia

  • Copper deficiency — Classification and external resources ICD 10 E61.0 ICD 9 275.1 Copper deficiency is a very ra …   Wikipedia

  • Vitamin B12 deficiency — Classification and external resources Cyanocobalamin ICD 10 E …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”