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Selenium concentration in cerebrospinal fluid samples from a paediatric population
Mireia Tondo1, Juan Moreno, Mercedes Casado
1Clinical Biochemistry Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (MICIN), Barcelona, Spain.
Insights
Cerebrospinal fluid selenium (Se) levels in children decrease with age but increase with protein and GPX activity. Plasma Se did not correlate with CSF Se.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Neuroscience
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Selenium (Se) is a vital trace element crucial for optimal brain function.
- Understanding selenium's role in the central nervous system, particularly in pediatric populations, is essential for neurological health.
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) provides direct insight into the brain's biochemical environment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) selenium (Se) concentrations in pediatric patients.
- To investigate correlations between CSF Se levels and biochemical variables including age, CSF protein, and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity.
- To compare CSF Se levels with plasma Se concentrations.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of CSF selenium (Se) in 89 pediatric patients.
- Statistical correlation analysis between CSF Se and age, CSF total protein, plasma Se, and GPX activity.
- Comparison of median CSF Se values with plasma Se concentrations.
Main Results:
- CSF Se concentrations exhibited a significant negative correlation with patient age (r = -0.476; p < 0.0001).
- CSF Se showed significant positive correlations with CSF total protein concentrations (r = 0.446; p < 0.001) and GPX activity (r = 0.431; p = 0.001).
- No significant association was found between plasma and CSF Se concentrations; median CSF Se was 32 times lower than plasma Se.
Conclusions:
- CSF Se levels in pediatric patients are influenced by age and total CSF protein.
- The correlation between CSF Se and GPX activity suggests Se quantification may reflect Se-dependent protein function.
- CSF Se concentrations are independent of serum Se levels in this pediatric cohort.
Abstract:
Selenium is an important trace element for brain function. Our objective was to analyse cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) selenium (Se) in 89 paediatric patients. We also studied correlations between Se and other biochemical variables (age, CSF protein concentrations and glutathione peroxidase activity and plasma Se values). Cerebrospinal fluid Se values showed a significant negative correlation with the age of patients (r = -0.476; p < 0.0001), and positive with CSF total protein concentrations and GPX activity (r = 0.446, p < 0.001; r = 0.431; p = 0.001, respectively). No association was observed between plasma and CSF Se concentrations. Median CSF Se values were 32 times lower when compared with those for plasma. In conclusion, CSF Se concentrations depend on age and total CSF protein values. The association observed between CSF Se and GPX activity suggests that Se quantification might be a reflection of some Se-dependent protein function. Cerebrospinal fluid Se values were independent of serum Se concentrations.
