Selenium is a powerful antioxidant regulating the activity of the glutathione peroxidase enzymes, which catalyse the detoxification of hydrogen peroxide and organic hydroperoxides. Selenium deficiency has been implicated in the aetiopathogeny of Keshan disease, an endemic cardiomyopathy observed in China, and in other cases of congestive cardiomyopathy in subjects on artificial nutrition. However, the evidence from case—control and prospective studies for an association between low selenium status and cardiovascular diseases remains controversial. Mechanisms whereby selenium protects against such diseases include increased resistance of low-density lipoproteins against oxidative modification, modulation of prostaglandin synthesis and platelet aggregation, and protection against toxic heavy metals. The therapeutic benefit of selenium administration in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases still remains insufficiently documented.
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2.
OsterOPrellwitzW: Selenium and cardiovascular diseasesBiol Trace Element Res1990, 24:91–103. Areview on the importance of selenium in cardiovascular diseases, particularly cardiomyopathies, coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction.
3.
Keshan Disease Research Group of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences: Observations on effects of sodium selenite in prevention of Keshan diseaseChinese Med J1979, 92:471–476. Oneof the first papers of Chinese scientists demonstrating the successful prevention of a nutritional disease by selenium supplementation.
4.
JohnsonRABakerSSFalonJTMaynardERuskinJWenZ: An occidental case of cardiomyopathy and selenium deficiencyN Engl J Med1981, 304:1210–1212. Thispaper describes the first case of fatal congestive cardiomyopathy associated with selenium deficiency in an adult patient during prolonged total parenteral nutrition.
5.
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CollippPJChenSY: Cardiomyopathy and selenium deficiency in a two year-old girlNEngl J Med1981, 304:1304–1305. Thefirst description of a treatment with selenium of cardiomyopathy in a two-year-old girl.
7.
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8.
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9.
ChuFDoroshowJEsworthyR: Expression, characterization, and tissue distribution of a new cellular selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase, GSHPx-GIJ Biol Chem1993, 268:2571–2576. Thepaper describes a new glutathione peroxidase form mainly present in the gastrointestinal tract.
10.
HalliwellBGutteridgeJMC: Free Radicals in Biology and Medicine, 2nd Edn.Oxford: Clarendon Press; 1989. Anexcellent book providing a lot of information about the importance of free radicals in medicine and biology.
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19.
RaijLNagyJCoffeeKDeMasterE: Hypercholesterolemia promotes endothelial dysfunction in vitamin E- and selenium-deficient ratsHypertension1993, 22:56–61. Apaper suggesting that deficient levels of selenium may be pathophysiologically important in the initiation, progression, or both of vascular disease in hypercholaesterolemic subjects.
20.
LuXLiuSManR: Enhancement of endothelium dependent relaxation in the rat aortic ring by selenium supplementCardiovascular Res1994, 28:345–348. Aninteresting study showing that selenium supplementation enhances endothelium dependent relaxation by increasing the release of nitric oxide.
21.
BryantRBailleyM: Altered lipoxygenase metabolism and decreased glutathione peroxydase activity in platelets from selenium deficient ratsBiochem Biophys Res Commun1980, 92:268–276. Oneof the first study demonstrating the implication of selenium in platelet metabolism of arachidonic acid.
22.
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23.
VirtamoJHuttunenJK: Minerals, trace elements and cardiovascular diseases, Ann Clin Res1988, 20:102–113. Acritical review focusing on the epidemiological follow-up studies on the association of serum selenium with cardiovascular diseases.
24.
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27.
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28.
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29.
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30.
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31.
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32.
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33.
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34.
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36.
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37.
SalonenJTAlfthanGPikkarainenJHuttunenJKPuskaP: Association between cardiovascular death and myocardial infarction and serum selenium in a matched pair longitudinal study. Lancet1982, July 24th: 175–179. Thefirst published case-control study on the association between serum selenium and risk of death from acute coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction.
38.
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42.
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43.
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44.
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45.
BukkensSGde VosNKokFSchoutenEde BruijnAHofmanA: Selenium status and cardiovascular risk factors in healthy Dutch subjectsJ Am Coll Nutr1990, 9:128–135. Acareful examination of the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and selenium status.
46.
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47.
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48.
LuomaFVSotianemiEAKorpelaAHKumpulainenJ: Serum selenium, glutathione peroxidase activity and high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Effect or selenium supplementationRes Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol1984, 46:469–472. Aninteresting study showing that selenium supplementation in subjects with low selenium status favourably modified lipid fractions that are indicators of coronary risk.
49.
Viegas-CrespoAMNèveJMonteiroMLAmorimMFPauloOSHalpernMJ: Selenium and lipid parameters in plasma of Portuguese subjectsJ Trace Elements Electrolytes Health Dis1994, 8:119–122. Alarge study examining the relations between selenium status and lipid parameters.
50.
CénacASimonoffMMorettoPDjiboA: A low plasma selenium is a risk factor for peripartum cardiomyopathy. A comparative study in Sahelian AfricaInt J Cardiol1992, 36:57–59. Aninteresting observation deserving further investigations on the nutritional origin of this poorly known cardiomyopathy.
OsterOPrellwitzWKasperWMeinertzT: Congestive cardiomyopathy and the selenium content or serumClin Chim Acta1983, 128, 125–132. Thefirst study correlating selenium status with parameters of the cardiac function.
53.
OsterODrexlerMSchenkJMeinertzWKasperWSchusterC: The serum selenium concentration of patients with acute myocardial infarction. Ann Clin Res, 1986, 18:36–42.
54.
PorterMPearsonDJSuarez-MendezVJBlannAD: Plasma, platelet and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidases as risk factors in ischaemic heart disease in manClin Sci1992, 83:343–345.
55.
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56.
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57.
OsterODahmMOelerH: Element concentrations (selenium, copper, zinc, iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous) in heart tissue of patients with coronary heart disease correlated with physiological parameters of the heartEur Heart J1993, 14:770–774. Apaper correlating selenium concentration in heart tissue with parameters characterizing cardiac output.
58.
WangYXBockerKReuterHKiemJKasperekKIyengarG: Selenium and myocardial infarction: Glutathione peroxidase in plateletsKlin Wochenschr1981, 59:817–818.
59.
MooreJANoivaRWellsIC: Selenium concentrations in plasma of patients with arteriographically defined coronary atherosclerosisClin Chem1984, 30:1171–1173. Thefirst clinical study demonstrating an association between low plasma selenium and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis.
60.
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61.
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62.
KorpelaHKumpulainenJJussilaEKemilaSKaariainenMKaariainenT: Effect of selenium supplementation after acute myocardial infarctionRes Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol1989, 65:249–252. Oneof the few selenium supplementation studies on the interest of associating selenium in the treatment for myocardial infarction.
63.
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