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Plasma glutathione peroxidase after selenium supplementation in patients with reduced selenium state

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Abstract

The plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity was measured in normal adults and children and in patients with reduced selenium state because of dietary treatment of metabolic diseases (phenylketonuria or maple-syrup-urine disease) before and after selenium supplementation. Besides GSHPx (measured with t-butyl hydroperoxide, cumene hydroperoxide and hydrogen peroxide as acceptor substrates) the activity of glutathione S-transferase was estimated in plasma. Plasma GSHPx activity in healthy children was significantly lower than in healthy adults. In 11 dietetically treated patients with phenylketonuria or maple-syrup-urine disease the plasma GSHPx was reduced to about 17% of the values of healthy children of the same age. No glutathione S-transferase activity could be found in plasma of children in normal or reduced Se state.

During administration of yeast rich in Se (200μg Se/d) for 90 days 2 healthy adults showed no significant change of plasma GSHPx activity. During Se supplementation (75–100μg Se/d) for 120–163 days 5 dietetically treated patients with PKU or MSUD exhibited a significant increase of plasma GSHPx activity within 2 days. The values reached a plateau after 1 to 3 weeks of supplementation and remained at this level within the following 4 to 5 months. Therefore, the activity of plasma glutathione peroxidase can be used as an indicator of short-term changes of selenium intake in selenium deficient individuals.

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Abbreviations

(PKU):

Phenylketonuria

(MSUD):

maple-syrup-urine disease

(GSHPx):

glutathione peroxidase

(t-BOOH):

t-butyl hydroperoxide

(COOH):

cumene hydroperoxide

(H2O2):

hydrogen peroxide

(GSH):

reduced glutathione

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Children's Hospital C, D-4000, Düsseldorf 1, Federal Republic of Germany

    G. Steiner, H. Menzel, I. Lombeck, F. K. Ohnesorge & H. J. Bremer

  2. Institute of Toxicology, University of Düsseldorf, D-4000, Düsseldorf 1, Federal Republic of Germany

    G. Steiner, H. Menzel, I. Lombeck, F. K. Ohnesorge & H. J. Bremer

Authors
  1. G. Steiner
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  2. H. Menzel
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  3. I. Lombeck
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  4. F. K. Ohnesorge
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  5. H. J. Bremer
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With support of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

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Steiner, G., Menzel, H., Lombeck, I. et al. Plasma glutathione peroxidase after selenium supplementation in patients with reduced selenium state. Eur J Pediatr 138, 138–140 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00441140

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00441140

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