[Effect of selenium administration on various laboratory parameters of patients at risk for sepsis syndrome]

Low selenium plasma levels were often measured in ICU patients with polytrauma, major surgery or various severe diseases. Activation of selenium-dependent functions of the antioxidant metabolism and the immune system is suggested to be causally.

In a prospective randomized clinical trial including 24 critically ill patients we investigated the plasma levels of selenium, malondialdehyde, glutathione, elastase, fT3, fT4, TSH, IL-2R, IL-6 and IL-8 with and without parenteral selenium supplementation for 3 weeks (study design: week 1: twice 500 micrograms daily, week 2: once 500 micrograms, week 3: three times 100 micrograms sodium selenite).

Following 24 hours of supplementation selenium plasma levels were normalized. Malondialdehyde level decreased in the therapy group significantly beginning at day 3. In the control group we observed increased malondialdehyde values, a disturbed glutathione metabolism and an elevated elastase activity. fT3-values were diminished at day 0 in all patients. In the therapy group we measured a gradual fT3 restoration. In the control group a reactive TSH increase was observed. Selenium supplementation did not lead to an excessive stimulation of IL-2R, IL-6 or IL-8.

1. Rapid normalization of selenium plasma levels can be achieved with the applied selenium dosage. 2. Parameters of radical metabolism are significantly reduced following selenium administration. 3. T3 synthesis correlates closely with the selenium levels. 4. Excessive stimulation of the immune system does not appear in the applied dosage.