[Selenium and cataract--risk factor or useful dietary supplement?].

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Trace Element Research
• Biochemistry

Background:

• The role of selenium in cataract formation is not fully understood, with past research suggesting both beneficial and harmful effects.
• Investigating selenium levels in human lenses and blood serum is crucial for understanding its impact on different cataract types.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the correlation between selenium content in human lenses and blood serum and various forms of cataract.
• To explore potential differences in selenium levels related to diabetes and smoking in cataract patients.

Main Methods:

• Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to analyze selenium content in 110 blood serum samples and 84 human lenses.
• Preoperative investigations, including Scheimpflug techniques, were employed for data interpretation.
• The study included 123 patients (76 female, 37 male) with a mean age of 69.8 years.

Main Results:

• Lens selenium content significantly increased with greater lens opacification and coloration, with mature cataracts showing the highest levels.
• Blood serum selenium levels showed an inverse relationship compared to lens levels.
• Diabetics exhibited altered lens selenium content at younger ages, while smokers had lower selenium concentrations in both lenses and blood serum.

Conclusions:

• A clear link exists between cataract type and lens selenium content.
• The precise mechanism by which selenium influences lens opacification, whether directly or via selenium-dependent enzymes, requires further investigation.