Nutritional status of selenium in Alzheimer's disease patients

• Published in: British journal of nutrition Vol. 103; no. 6; pp. 803 - 806
• Main Authors: Cardoso, Bárbara Rita, Ong, Thomas Prates, Jacob-Filho, Wilson, Jaluul, Omar, Freitas, Maria Isabel d'Ávila, Cozzolino, Silvia M. Franciscato
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 28.03.2010
• Subjects: administration & dosage; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alzheimer disease; Alzheimer Disease - blood; Alzheimer's disease; analysis; Antioxidants; Atomic absorption spectroscopy; Biological and medical sciences; blood; blood plasma; Case-Control Studies; chemistry; Cognitive ability; Comparative studies; Diet; dietary minerals; elderly; elderly nutrition; Erythrocytes; Erythrocytes - chemistry; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; human diseases; Humans; Male; Nails; nails (integument); nails (primates); Nails - chemistry; nutrient deficiencies; nutrient intake; Nutrition; Nutrition assessment; Nutritional Status; Oxidative stress; patients; Selenium; Selenium - administration & dosage; Selenium - analysis; Selenium - blood; Selenium status; Spectral analysis; Spectrophotometry, Atomic; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Selenium status; Alzheimer's disease; Human; Nervous system diseases; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Alzheimer disease; Central nervous system disease; Degenerative disease; Selenium; Nutritional status; Cerebral disorder
• ISSN: 0007-1145; 1475-2662; 1475-2662
• DOI: 10.1017/S0007114509992832

Studies have shown that various antioxidants are decreased in different age-related degenerative diseases and thus, oxidative stress would have a central role in the pathogenesis of many disorders that involve neuronal degeneration, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present study aimed to assess the nutritional status of Se in AD patients and to compare with control subjects with normal cognitive function. The case–control study was carried out on a group of elderly with AD (n 28) and compared with a control group (n 29), both aged between 60 and 89 years. Se intake was evaluated by using a 3-d dietary food record. Se was evaluated in plasma, erythrocytes and nails by using the method of hydride generation atomic absorption spectroscopy. Deficient Se intake was largely observed in the AD group. AD patients showed significantly lower Se levels in plasma, erythrocytes and nails (32·59 μg/l, 43·74 μg/l and 0·302 μg/g) when compared with the control group (50·99 μg/l, 79·16 μg/l and 0·400 μg/g). The results allowed us to suggest that AD has an important relation with Se deficiency.