Selenium Level in Patients with Heart Failure versus Normal Individuals

Abstract

Background: Despite many attempts to discover pathophysiologic mechanisms to explain chronic
heart failure (CHF), no conceptual paradigms have been proved yet. Various studies have shown
the role of trace elements on heart failure (HF). Among all trace elements, selenium deficiency
is regarded as important risk factors for HF. Considering selenium deficiency in our society and
high prevalence of HF, we compared selenium level in patients with HF with healthy individuals.

Methods: In all, 32 hospitalized patients with HF and 32 healthy controls were enrolled in a
case–control study. Demographic characteristics as well as functional class and risk factors were
recorded for all two groups. Echocardiography was conducted for patients and all provided data
were registered. Then serum selenium levels were compared in case and control groups.

Results: The mean (±standard deviation) serum selenium was 92.5 ± 22.44 mg/dL in patients with HF and
109.3 ± 29.62 mg/dL in controls. The level of selenium was significantly lower and the frequency
of risk factors was significantly higher in case group. Selenium level did not differ significantly in
patients with different HF causes. There were a nonsignificant relationship between selenium level
and left ventricular ejection fraction and a significant reverse relationship between selenium level and
left ventricular volume and pulmonary artery pressure.

Conclusions: Our results showed statistically
significant lower level of serum selenium in patients with CHF in comparison to normal individuals.
Moreover, selenium level had significant reverse relationship with left ventricular volume and
pulmonary artery pressure.

Keywords: Heart failure, left ventricular volume, selenium