Effect of selenium deficiency on cardiac function of individuals with severe disabilities under long‐term tube feeding

Abstract

Eleven orally fed (group A) and 14 tube‐fed patients (group B) with severe disabilities and neurological disorders were compared to determine whether selenium (Se) deficiency is present in patients undergoing long‐term tube feeding, and to examine if Se supplementation has beneficial effects on their cardiac function. Assessments of Se intake, serum levels of Se, and cardiac‐function analysis including chest X‐ray, electrocardiography (ECG), and M‐mode echocardiography (UCG) were made. For group B, the effect of Se supplementation on cardiac function was assessed. Statistical significance was determined using Mann‐Whitney U test and Wilcoxon signed‐rank test. Deficiencies of Se were found in group B. ECG abnormalities were more common in group B than group A. UCG showed a lower ejection fraction, a lower mean rate of circumferential fiber shortening corrected by heart rate, and a lower diastolic velocity of the left‐ventricular posterior walls in group B than in group A. In group B, Se supplementation resulted in normalized serum Se levels, partial improvement of ECG abnormalities, and an increase of cardiac functions on UCG. It is thought that Se has beneficial effects on the myocardium of chronically tube‐fed patients. Se supplementation is recommended in this population.

The benefits of using selenium in the treatment of Chagas disease: prevention of right ventricle chamber dilatation and reversion of Trypanosoma cruzi-induced acute and chronic cardiomyopathy in mice

“…Dietary supplementation of 100 µg Se (sodium selenite) in patients submitted to total parenteral nutrition was shown to revert arrhythmias and cardiomegalies and lead to an increase in left ventricle ejection fraction (Saito et al 1998). In addition, the incidence of Keshan disease, an endemic dilated congestive myocardiopathy in areas of Se deficiency in China and Russia, has been shown to be prevented by oral Se supplementation at a dosage of 150-300 µg/week (Reeves et al 1989).…”

“…Gomez et al (2002) have also reported an increased severity of myopathy in Se-depleted chronically infected mice; furthermore, Davis et al (1998) showed that Se supplementation reduced parasitaemia and mortality in infected mice. Based on these findings and taking into account the association of Se intake with the prevention of cardiac diseases (Korpela et al 1989, Reeves et al 1989, Foster & Sumar 1997, Saito et al 1998, we investigated the effect of Se treatment on the development of chronic cardiopathy in T. cruzi-infected mice in both prevention and reversion schemes.…”

Selenium in the Prevention of Anthracycline-Induced Cardiac Toxicity in Children with Cancer

“…Dietary supplementation of 100  μ g Se (sodium selenite) in patients receiving total parenteral nutrition has been reported to prevent arrhythmias and cardiomegaly and lead to an increase in left ventricle ejection fraction [36]. In addition, the incidence of Keshan disease, an endemic dilated congestive myocardiopathy in areas of Se deficiency in China and Russia, has been shown to be decreased by oral Se supplementation at a dosage of 150–300  μ g/week [36, 37].…”

“…In addition, the incidence of Keshan disease, an endemic dilated congestive myocardiopathy in areas of Se deficiency in China and Russia, has been shown to be decreased by oral Se supplementation at a dosage of 150–300  μ g/week [36, 37]. It should be noted that Se supplementation has also been suggested as a strategy for prevention of myocardial disease in other studies of human cardiac pathology [36–38]. …”

“…It is an essential element to remove free radicals from the body and to prevent oxidative tissue damage [15–19]. Se supplementation could potentially prevent cardiac toxicity of anthracyclines [16–20]. …”