Reversal of biochemical and functional abnormalities in erythrocytes secondary to selenium deficiency

A patient with multiple enterocutaneous fistulae on total parenteral nutrition for 14 months developed low erythrocyte selenium and low erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase. Erythrocyte hexose monophosphate shunt activity stimulated with an H2O2 generating system was approximately one-fourth that of control. Hexose monophosphate shunt activity stimulated with methylene blue showed little difference between patient and control. With selenium supplementation erythrocyte selenium, glutathione peroxidase, and hexose monophosphate shunt activity became normal. Thus, the biochemical and functional consequences of selenium deficiency can be corrected with selenium supplementation.