Jump to main content
US EPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Search
Search
Main menu
Environmental Topics
Laws & Regulations
About EPA
Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)
Contact Us
Print
Feedback
Export to File
Search:
This record has one attached file:
Add More Files
Attach File(s):
Display Name for File*:
Save
Citation
Tags
HERO ID
6779223
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Antioxidant and thyroid hormone status in selenium-deficient phenylketonuric and hyperphenylalaninemic patients
Author(s)
van Bakel, MME; Printzen, G; Wermuth, B; Wiesmann, UN
Year
2000
Is Peer Reviewed?
Yes
Journal
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
ISSN:
0002-9165
EISSN:
1938-3207
Volume
72
Issue
4
Page Numbers
976-981
Language
English
PMID
11010940
DOI
10.1093/ajcn/72.4.976
Web of Science Id
WOS:000089494200014
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Subjects consuming protein-restricted diets, such as patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) or milder hyperphenylalaninemias (HPAs) are at risk of selenium deficiency. Selenium is a cofactor of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase and of the thyroid hormone converting enzyme thyroxine deiodinase.
OBJECTIVE:
Our goal was to investigate the effects of low plasma selenium on antioxidant and thyroid hormone status.
DESIGN:
We assessed plasma selenium, plasma total antioxidant status and the individual components thereof, erythrocyte antioxidant status, and plasma thyroid hormones in 24 PKU and 10 HPA patients and in 42 age-matched control subjects.
RESULTS:
Selenium was significantly lower in both PKU and HPA patients than in control subjects and the PKU patients had lower values than did the HPA patients. Total antioxidant status was lower in both patient groups than in the control group, whereas alpha-tocopherol, albumin, and uric acid were not significantly different among groups. Plasma selenium correlated well (r = 0.76) with erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase. PKU patients had lower glutathione peroxidase activity than did HPA patients and control subjects and lower glutathione concentrations than did control subjects. Both patient groups had lower superoxide dismutase activity than did control subjects. Free triiodothyronine was higher in both patient groups than in control subjects, whereas free thyroxine was higher in the PKU patients only. Free thyroxine and reverse triiodothyronine were inversely correlated with selenium.
CONCLUSION:
Supplementation with selenium seems to be advisable for patients consuming diets low in natural protein.
Keywords
phenylketonuria; hyperphenylalaninemia; selenium deficiency; low-protein diet; antioxidant status; thyroid hormone status; glutathione peroxidase; glutathione
Home
Learn about HERO
Using HERO
Search HERO
Projects in HERO
Risk Assessment
Transparency & Integrity