The diagnosis of deficiency or intoxication is made clinically, in part, the blood levels of glutathione peroxidase are determined.
Selenium is a component of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, which metabolizes hydroperoxides formed from polyunsaturated fatty acids. Selenium also forms a component of enzymes dejodieren the thyroid hormones. Generally acts selenium along with vitamin E as an antioxidant. Epidemiological studies link low selenium levels with cancer. The plasma levels vary depending on the selenium intake 8-25 mcg / dl. The diagnosis of deficiency or intoxication is made clinically, in part, the blood levels of glutathione peroxidase are determined. Selenium deficiency Selenium deficiency is rare, even in New Zealand and Finland, where the supply is only 30 to 50 mcg / day, compared to the US and Canadian 100-250 mcg / day. In certain parts of China, the average selenium intake is only 10 to 15 mcg / day. The selenium deficiency predisposes these patients to Keshan disease, an endemic viral cardiomyopathy, which mainly affects children and young women. This disease can be prevented by an oral dose of 50 micrograms daily Selenitsupplementen, but it can not be healed. Patients who were fed total parenteral over time, developed a selenium deficiency with muscle pain and weakness, responding to a Selenomethioninsupplement. In Siberia and China a chronic osteoarthropathy (Kashin-Beck disease) you may experience in growing children with selenium deficiency. Selenium deficiency and iodine deficiency can synergistically contribute to the formation of goiter and hypothyroidism. The diagnosis of selenium deficiency is clinical; in part, the glutathione peroxidase activity or plasma selenium is determined, but none of these tests is readily available. Therapeutically 100 micrograms sodium selenite are administered orally daily in selenium deficiency. Selenintoxikation in quantities above 900 mcg / day of selenium are toxic. A Selenintoxikation manifests in hair loss, nail abnormalities, dermatitis, peripheral neuropathy, nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, irritability and garlic odor of the breath. The toxic amount of plasma selenium is not well defined.