Utilizing selenious acid to reverse selenium deficiency in total parenteral nutrition patients

The ability of selenious acid to reverse selenium deficiency in eight adult home TPN patients was assessed. Initially, deficiency was documented by comparing both plasma selenium levels in patients (means = 0.035 micrograms/g) to those of 10 controls (means = 0.117 micrograms/g) (p less than 0.001) and by comparing erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity, as mumol NADPH oxidized/g Hb/min, in patients (means = 8.93) to controls (means = 31.76) (p less than 0.002). Subsequently, patients added 100 micrograms/day of selenious acid to their total parenteral nutrition solutions. Postsupplementation selenium status demonstrated a mean plasma level of 0.101 micrograms/g and a mean erythrocyte GSHPx activity of 17.56. Statistically, patients' plasma selenium levels were significantly different (p less than 0.001) when compared to pretreatment levels. Additionally, there was no significant difference between the restored levels and the levels of the controls. Postsupplementation erythrocyte GSHPx activity (means = 17.56) was not significantly different from the initial patient values, although activity did double. Additionally, there existed a significant difference between the postsupplementation enzyme activity and the controls (p less than 0.03). We conclude that selenious acid is able to normalize deficient plasma levels but not deficient erythrocyte GSHPx activity.