Serum selenium concentration in patients with ulcerative colitis

Selenium deficiency may be implicated in the pathogenesis of some human diseases, including colon cancer. The incidence of carcinoma of the colon is increased in patients with ulcerative colitis. We measured the serum concentration of selenium (S-Se) in 20 patients with ulcerative colitis and 20 sex-, age-, height- and weight-matched controls. Although no significant difference was found in mean S-Se between patients and controls (patients: S-Se = 0.93 mumol/l, controls: S-Se = 0.98 mumol/l), the S-Se level decreased with increasing extension of the disease (p less than 0.02). No correlation was found between S-Se and the sex, age, height, or weight of the person or between S-Se and the activity or duration of the disease. The inverse correlation between S-Se and the extension of the disease may be caused by a decreased absorption of selenium from the diseased colon in ulcerative colitis. The significance of the decreased S-Se in patients with extensive disease is unknown, but the possibility exists that this may further increase their risk of developing colonic cancer.