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Selenium supplementation for critically ill adults.

A Avenell1, D W Noble, J Barr

  • 1Health Services Research Unit, University of Aberdeen, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK, AB25 2ZD. a.avenell@abdn.ac.uk

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|October 21, 2004
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Selenium and ebselen supplementation show no significant benefits for critically ill adults. More rigorous trials are needed to determine their effectiveness in improving outcomes for patients in intensive care.

Area of Science:

  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Nutritional Science
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Selenium is an essential trace mineral vital for immune function, tissue protection, and thyroid health.
  • Optimizing selenium status may offer protection against severe tissue damage and infection in critically ill patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of selenium and ebselen supplementation on adults recovering from critical illness.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving selenium or ebselen supplementation.
  • Searched multiple databases (CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, etc.) up to December 2003.
  • Included RCTs in adults with critical illness, assessing mortality, infection, and other clinical outcomes.

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Main Results:

  • Seven RCTs with 813 participants were included; trial quality was generally poor.
  • Neither selenium nor ebselen supplementation demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in mortality.
  • No significant differences were observed in infection rates, ventilator days, or length of hospital stay.

Conclusions:

  • Insufficient evidence exists to recommend selenium or ebselen supplementation for critically ill patients.
  • Future trials require improved methodology, adequate sample sizes, and robust outcome data.
  • The review will be updated upon completion of ongoing trials.