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Low plasma selenium concentrations in critically ill children: the interaction effect between inflammation and
Critical Care (London, England)
|June 3, 2014
Summary
Low plasma selenium in critically ill children is linked to both malnutrition and inflammation. The interaction between these factors is key for understanding selenium status and guiding supplementation decisions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Critical Care
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Low plasma selenium is common in critically ill patients, but its causes (systemic inflammation vs. nutritional deficiency) are unclear.
- Understanding factors associated with low selenium is crucial for managing critically ill children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine factors associated with low plasma selenium in critically ill children.
- To investigate the interplay between inflammatory response and nutritional status in selenium levels.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 173 critically ill children.
- Measured plasma selenium, C-reactive protein (CRP), and nutritional status.
- Analyzed data using Binomial Generalized Estimating Equations, considering correlations between admission and 5th-day measurements.
Main Results:
- Malnutrition and elevated CRP levels were significantly associated with low plasma selenium.
- A significant interaction was found between malnutrition and CRP levels.
- The impact of malnutrition on low selenium was more pronounced at lower CRP levels (<40 mg/L).
Conclusions:
- The interaction between inflammatory response magnitude and malnutrition significantly affects plasma selenium concentrations.
- Plasma selenium interpretation in critically ill patients requires consideration of both inflammation and nutritional status.
- This interaction is important for decisions regarding selenium supplementation in systemic inflammation.
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