Selenium is a trace element which fulfils important functions in the organism. Its deficit may cause acute disorders, but an overdose can also lead to severe consequences. The functions of selenium in the organism are mainly connected with its antioxidant properties, as it is an essential part of important antioxidant enzymes. Disturbances of oxidant balance have been found to be involved in the activity of numerous harmful factors as well as in the pathogenesis of diverse illnesses. Selenium administration has proved to be effective against the toxicity of many agents and the side effects of drugs. However, the narrow range between therapeutic and toxic doses of selenium, as well as the dependence of its effect on the applied form, dose and method of treatment, makes the choice of the most effective supplement a very complex issue. Divergent forms of selenium are still being studied, including both inorganic and organic compounds as well as Se-enriched natural products. The newest research has also involved selenium nanoparticles. The aim of this review is to present the great potential of selenium for protecting the organism against a wide variety of environmental pollutants, drugs and physical factors.

Background and Objective: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disorder of the musculoskeletal system resulting in worsening of life condition. The research revealed the involvement of oxidative stress into both OA pathogenesis and the effects of therapeutic agents applied in OA cases. The activities of the most important antioxidant enzymes, namely superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant status (TAS), in blood of the knee OA patients were studied, with the aim of clarifying which enzymatic antioxidants are involved into osteoarthritis (OA)-related oxidative stress and whether any compensatory effects occur. The results were additionally analyzed with regard to gender. Methods: Whole blood SOD (U/mL), plasma GPx (U/L) and CAT (U/mL) activities as well as plasma TAS (mmol/L)) in knee OA patients were investigated. Sixty-seven patients (49 females and 18 males) with primary knee OA were enrolled. The control comprised 21 subjects (10 females and 11 males) free of osteoarthritis or inflammation. Results: TAS was decreased in OA subjects (4.39 ± 0.53 vs. 4.70 ± 0.60), with this effect being more significant in OA females (4.31 ± 0.51 vs. 5.02 ± 0.54). GPx was depressed in all OA patients (518 ± 176 vs. 675 ± 149). In both genders, GPx was decreased, significantly in males (482 ± 185 vs. 715 ± 105). SOD was decreased in all OA patients (109 ± 32 vs. 127 ± 42). CAT showed no difference in all OA subjects vs. control, while in OA females it was depleted (20.2 (11.6–31.6) vs. 38.5 (27.9–46.6)) and in OA men it increased (26.9 (23.3–46.5) vs. 14.0 (7.0–18.6)). Conclusions: The obtained results suggest that in men some compensatory mechanisms towards OA-related oxidative stress occurred. Based on the obtained data, the introduction of antioxidant supplements into OA therapy could be suggested with further research concerning the choice of agents.

Introduction and objective. Osteoarthrits (OA) is a complex, chronic disorder of cartilage and bone, related to homeostasis of bioelements. The current study aimed at evaluation of correlations between plasma silicon, magnesium and ionized calcium in OA patients in consideration to gender. Materials and method. The study comprised 59 patients aged 69.5±9.0 years (18 males aged 66.8±9.2; 41 females aged 70.7±8.8), admitted to the Trauma and Orthopaedic Ward of the Independent Public Health Care Centre in Łęczna, Poland, due to OA and qualified to surgery. Control group consisted of 19 subjects without OA (54.5±8.6 years; 10 males aged 41.3±9.3; 9 females aged 69.1±14.9). Plasma concentrations of silicon and magnesium (spectrophotometric methods) and ionized calcium (potentiometric method) were determined. Results. Silicon in OA patients was significantly increased vs. control. In OA males and OA females, silicon was enhanced vs. the respective controls, but it was statistically significant only in males. Magnesium in OA patients was not significantly different from control group. In females, a significant decrease vs. the respective control was observed. No significant differences were observed in the case of ionized calcium. Positive correlations between silicon and magnesium in healthy control, both in the whole group and in male and female subgroups, were noted, while no such effect was observed in OA subjects. Conclusions. The results might suggest some connection between higher OA incidence in women and the depleted magnesium in the organism. Silicon increase in OA patients, especially in men, may indicate its intense metabolism during the articular inflammatory process, likely dependent on sex hormones. It remains open whether the plasma Si increase is the effect or cause of OA.

Lithium is widely used in medicine and the therapy is often long term. Apart from beneficial effects, its application can cause diverse side effects. The current study was performed with the aim of the evaluation of the effect of lithium and/or selenium administration on magnesium, calcium and silicon levels in rats. The study was performed on rats divided into four groups (six animals each): control—received saline, Li—received Li2CO3 (2.7 mg Li/kg b.w.), Se—received Na2SeO3·H2O (0.5 mg Se/kg b.w.), and Li+Se—received simultaneously Li2CO3 and Na2SeO3·H2O (2.7 and 0.5 mg Se/kg b.w.). The administration was performed in form of water solutions by a stomach tube once a day for 6 weeks. In the organs (liver, kidney, brain, spleen, heart, lung and femoral muscle), the concentrations of magnesium, calcium and silicon were determined. Lithium significantly increased Ca in the kidney, brain and spleen. Coadministration of selenium reversed this effect. No changes of magnesium in organs were observed. Silicon was affected only in spleen—an increase vs. control was observed in all studied groups. The beneficial influence of coadministration of selenium in case of calcium lets us suggest that an issue of its possible use as an adjuvant alleviating side effects in lithium-treated subjects is worth being continued.

No abstract