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Evaluation of Serum Selenium and Erythrocyte Glutathione Peroxidase Levels in Patients with Recurrent Tonsillitis
Metin Kilinc1, Cem Kastal2, Erdogan Okur3
11Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, 46050 Kahramanmaras, Turkey.
Insights
Recurrent tonsillitis patients show significantly lower serum selenium and glutathione peroxidase levels compared to healthy children. These deficiencies may contribute to chronic illness, warranting further research.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pediatrics
- Clinical Nutrition
Background:
- Recurrent tonsillitis is a common pediatric condition.
- Selenium (Se) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) are vital for immune function and antioxidant defense.
- Altered Se and GSH-Px levels may be associated with inflammatory conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum selenium (Se) and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels in children with recurrent tonsillitis.
- To compare these levels with those in healthy children.
Main Methods:
- Serum Se levels measured using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry with Zeeman background correction.
- Erythrocyte GSH-Px levels measured indirectly via spectrophotometry.
- Study included 53 patients with recurrent tonsillitis and 51 healthy controls, aged 3-13 years.
Main Results:
- Mean serum Se levels were significantly lower in patients (60.4 µg/dL) than controls (78.7 µg/dL).
- Mean erythrocyte GSH-Px levels were significantly lower in patients (7.0 U/g hb) than controls (23.1 U/g hb).
- Both Se and GSH-Px levels were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in the recurrent tonsillitis group.
Conclusions:
- Children with recurrent tonsillitis exhibit significantly lower serum Se and erythrocyte GSH-Px levels.
- This deficiency might predispose individuals to a chronic disease state.
- Further investigation is needed to confirm the role of Se and GSH-Px in the pathogenesis of recurrent tonsillitis.
Abstract:
The aim of this study is to investigate serum selenium (Se) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels in patients with recurrent tonsillitis. The study included 53 patients with recurrent tonsillitis and 51 healthy children. The measurement of serum Se levels were done in graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer using Zeeman background correction. Erythrocyte GSH-Px levels were indirectly measured by using the spectrophotometry. The ages of children in both groups ranged between 3 and 13 years, with a mean age of 7.60 years for patient group and 7.22 years for control group. Mean serum Se levels in patient and control groups were 60.4 and 78.7 µg/dL respectively. Mean erythrocyte GSH-Px levels in patient and control groups were 7.0 and 23.1 U/g hb, respectively. The mean blood Se and GSH-Px levels in patients with recurrent tonsillitis were significantly (P < 0.001) lower than control group. In our study, we found that serum Se and erythrocyte GSH-Px levels of cases with recurrent tonsillitis were significantly lower than healthy controls. The decline in serum Se and erythrocyte GSH-Px enzyme levels may predispose a chronic disease state but this issue needs further investigation.
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