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Reversible cardiomyopathy due to selenium deficiency
W C Reeves1, S P Marcuard, S E Willis
1East Carolina University, School of Medicine, Greenville, North Carolina 27834.
Insights
Selenium deficiency can cause heart disease (cardiomyopathy), particularly in children. This case study shows selenium supplementation reversed cardiomyopathy in a woman with Crohn's disease, highlighting its importance for heart health.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cardiology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Selenium is an essential trace element vital for glutathione peroxidase activity, an enzyme protecting against cellular oxidative damage.
- Selenium deficiency is associated with Keshan disease, a form of dilated congestive cardiomyopathy primarily affecting children in rural China.
- Deficiency cases are sporadically reported in the US, often linked to poor nutritional intake or long-term home parenteral nutrition.
Observation:
- A young Black woman with Crohn's disease developed congestive cardiomyopathy.
- Her cardiac condition was diagnosed and monitored.
Findings:
- The patient's congestive cardiomyopathy was reversed after selenium administration.
- This suggests a direct link between selenium status and cardiac function in this patient.
Implications:
- This case highlights the critical role of selenium in preventing and treating cardiomyopathy, even in adults with chronic conditions.
- It underscores the importance of assessing selenium levels in patients with unexplained cardiomyopathy, especially those with malabsorption disorders like Crohn's disease.
- Adequate selenium intake is crucial for maintaining cardiovascular health and preventing severe cardiac complications.
Abstract:
Selenium is an essential trace element and a component of glutathione peroxidase, an enzyme that may help to prevent oxidative damage to cells. Selenium deficiency has been linked to the development of Keshan disease, a dilated congestive cardiomyopathy occurring primarily in children living in rural China. Sporadic cases have been reported in the United States in individuals with poor nutritional intake, mostly in individuals on long-term home parenteral nutrition. This report describes a young black woman with Crohn's disease in whom a congestive cardiomyopathy developed and was subsequently reversed following administration of selenium.