Blood Selenium Levels and Glutathione-Peroxidase Activities in University and Chronic Intravenous Hyperalimentation Subjects 1

Abstract

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine selenium concentration in erythro-cytes and plasma and to compare these values to the measured erythrocyte glutathione-peroxidase activity for a university and a long-term intravenous hyperalimentation (IVH) population. In addition, we wished to determine if these chronic IVH patients were at risk for selenium deficiency. There was a positive correlation (r = 0.67) between erythrocyte selenium levels and erythrocyte glutathione-peroxidase activities in the university population. The patients receiving IVH had significantly lower mean selenium levels in erythro-cytes and plasma and mean glutathione-peroxidase activities than the values from the university population. No correlation existed between erythrocyte selenium levels and erythrocyte glutathione-peroxidase activities in this IVH patient population. These chronic IVH patients when compared with the university population appear to be at risk for selenium deficiency.