Abstract
For humans, ecological and epidemiological results are reported that show a relationship between the serum selenium concentration and cardiovascular disease in populations where low serum selenium concentrations are found, e.g., in Eastern Finland. From clinical studies done in Germany (FRG and GDR), Finland, and Sweden, subnormal serum selenium and partially whole blood selenium concentrations are reported in patients with acute myocardial infarction. For patients with coronary arteriosclerosis, subnormal serum selenium concentrations are reported from the USA and Germany and subnormal whole blood selenium concentrations from Germany. Subnormal serum and subnormal whole blood selenium concentrations of patients with cardiomyopathy are reported from non Keshan disease affected areas in Germany, France, and China.
In selenium deficiency, an accumulation of lipid peroxides in the heart may occur, especially under ischemic conditions and if ischemic tissue is reperfused. Lipidperoxides in the heart may damage the cell membrane and may lead to an impaired calcium transport with an uncontrolled calcium accumulation in the cell. This may result in an activation of phospholipids, and, in consequence, to an enhanced formation of arachidonic acid. An increased concentration of lipid peroxides owing to selenium deficiency may shift the prostaglandin synthesis from prostacyclin to thromboxan, causing enhanced blood pressure and platelet aggregability.
From animal experiments, it is known that selenium protects against cardiotoxic elements, cardiotoxic xenobiotics, and viral infections that affect the heart. Selenium deficiency may also be a secondary factor in the causation of hypertension and myocardial ischemia.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
P. Puska, P. Pietinen, A. Nissinen, J. Salonen, J. Tuomilehto, and C. Ehmholm,Diet and Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease and Cancer, Raven Press, B. Halgren et al., eds., 1986, p. 175.
J. K. Huttunen and J. Virtamo,Diet and Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease and Cancer, Raven Press, B. Halgren et al., eds., 1986, p. 163.
Y. Chiemchaisri and P. H. Philips,J. Nutr. 81, 307 (1963).
H. Luoma, T. Nuuja, Y. Collan, and P. Numniikoski,Calcif. Tissue Res. 20, 191 (1976).
R. Masironi,Bull. WHO 40, 305 (1969).
K. O. Godwin,Q. J. Exp. Physiol. 50, 282 (1965).
K. O. Godwin and F. J. Fraser,Q. J. Exp. Physiol. 51, 94 (1966).
W. J. Hartley and D. C. Dodd,New Zealand Vet. J. 5, 61 (1957).
W. J. Hartley and A. B. Grants,Fed. Proc. 20, 679 (1961).
D. E. Hoque,Proc. Cornell Nutr. Conf., Ithaca, New York, p. 32 (1958).
O. H. Muth, J. E. Oldfield, L. F. Remment and J. R. Schubert,Science 128, 1090 (1958).
S. Kennedy and D. A. Rice,Am. J. Pathol. 130, 315 (1988).
J. D. J. Harding,Res. Vet. Sci. 1, 129 (1960).
A. L. Trapp, K. K. Keahey, D. L. Whitenack, and C. K. Whitehair,J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 157, 289 (1970).
G. F. Combs, Jr. and S. B. Combs,The Role of Selenium in Nutrition, Academic Press, 1986, p. 275.
O. H. Muth, P. H. Weswig, P. D. Whanger, and J. E. Oldfield,Am. J. Vet. Res. 32, 1603 (1971).
J. A. Butler, P. D. Whanger, and N. N. Patton,J. Am. Coll. Nutr. 7, 43 (1988).
J. F. van Vleet, A. H. Rebar, and V. J. Ferrans,Amer. J. Vet. Res. 38, 991 (1977).
Lin Guanglin, Chung-hua Ping Li Hsueh Tsa Chih15, 255 (1986).
Jiang Yan,Selenium in Biology and Medicine, G. F. Combs, J. E. Spallholz, O. A. Levander, and J. E. Oldfield, eds. AVI Publishing, Part A, p. 324 (1987).
N. V. Dimitrov, M. B. Hay, S. Siew, D. A. Hudler, L. J. Charamella, and D. E. Ullrey,Am. J. Pathol. 126, 376 (1987).
D. M. Aviado, J. Drimal, T. Watanabe, and P. M. Lish,Cardiology 60, 113 (1975).
H. J. Peters, H. Köhler, H. J. Duck, L. Englemann, H. Zwanziger, B. Vorberg, B. Pohle, H. Pankan, and B. Hanstein, Wiss. Z. Karl-Marx-Univ. Leipzig,Math. Naturwiss. R. 35, 195 (1986).
J. E. Spallholz,Selenium in Biology and Medicine, J. E. Spallholz, J. L. Martin, and H. E. Ganther, eds., AVI Publishing, p. 103 (1981).
K. Y. Ge, J. Bai, X. J. Deng, S. Q. Wu, S. Q. Wang, A. N. Xue, and C. Q. Su,Selenium in Biology and Medicine, G. F. Combs, J. E. Spallholz, O. A. Levander, and J. E. Oldfield, eds., AVI Publishing, Part B, p. 761 (1987).
X. Chen, G. Yang, J. Chen, X. Chen, Z. Wenn, and W. Ge,Biol. Trace Elem. Res. 2, 91 (1980).
Keshan Disease Research Group of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking,Chin. Med. J. 92, 477 (1979).
Keshan Disease Research Group,Chin. Med. J. 92, 471 (1979).
Z. M. Wen, Y. S. Chen, P. Fu, C. H. Quian, W. R. Liu, and H. J. Huang,Selenium in Biology and Medicine, G. F. Combs, J. E. Spallholz, O. A. levander, and J. E. Oldfield, eds., AVI Publishing, Part B, p. 902 (1987).
A. Aro, G. Alfthan, S. Soimakallio, and E. Voutilainen,Clin. Chem. 32, 911 (1986).
J. A. Tan, R. B. Li, D. X. Zheng, Y. Z. Zhu, F. S. Hou, W. Y. Wang, andW. Y. ZhuSelenium in Biology and Medicine, G. F. Combs, J. E. Spallholz, O. A. Levander, and J. E. Oldfield, eds., AVI Publishing, Part B p. 859 (1987).
K. Ge. A. Yue, J. Bai, and S. Wang,Virchows Arch. A. 401, 1 (1983).
Gu Bo-qi,Chin. Med. J. 96, 251 (1983).
R. A. Johnson, S. S. Baker, J. T. Fallon, et al.,N. Engl. J. Med. 304, 1210 (1981).
P. J. Collip and S. Y. Chen,N. Engl. J. Med. 304, 1304 (1981).
C. R. Fleming, J. T. Lie, J. T. McCall, J. F. O'Brien, E. E. Baillie, and J. L. Thistle,Gastroenterology 83, 864 (1983).
O. Oster, W. Prellwitz, W. Kasper, and T. Meinertz,Clin. Chim. Acta 128, 125 (1983).
C. Huguet, P. Chappuis, J. Pequet, F. Thuillier, A. Legrand, and F. Rousselet,Ann. Biol. Clin. 41, 277 (1983).
T. Thuong, P. Auzépy, M. Blondeau, and C. Richard,La Presse Médicale 15, 693 (1986).
Nan Bai-song, Li Chun-sheng, and Chen Li-hua,Chin. Med. Immunol. 99, 948 (1986).
J. T. Salonen, G. Alfthan, J. K. Huttunen, J. Pikkarainen, and P. Puska,Lancet 175 (1982).
J. T. Salonen, R. Salonen, J. Pentilla, J. J. Herranen, J. Jauhiaissen, M. Kantola, P. Kanranen, R. Lappetelainen, P. O. Mäenpää, and P. Puska,Am. J. Cardiol. 56, 226 (1985).
T. A. Miettinen, G. Alfthan, J. K. Huttunen, J. Pikkarainen, V. Nankarinen, S. Mattila, and T. Kumlin,Br. Med. J. 287, 517 (1982).
J. Virtamo, E. Vakeila, G. Alfthan, S. Punsar, J. K. Huttunen, and M. Karvonen,Am. J. Epidemiol. 122, 276 (1985).
J. Ringstad and D. S. Thelle,Acta Pharmacol. Toxicol. 59 (VII), 336 (1986).
F. J. Kok, A. M. de Bruijn, A. Hofman, and H. A. Valkenburg,Int. J. Epidem. 16, 329 (1987).
H. J. Boström and P. O. Wester,Acta Med. Scand. 181, 465 (1967).
R. J. Shamberger, C. E. Willis, and C. J. McCormack,Trace Substances in Environmental Health 13, D. D. Hemphill, ed., University of Missouri Press, Columbus, MO, p. 59 (1979).
P. Auzépy, M. Blondeau, C. Richards, D. Pradeau, P. Therond, and T. Thuong,Acta Cardiologica XLII 161 (1987).
J. A. Moore, R. Noira, and I. C. Wells,Clin. Chem. 307, 1171 (1984).
O. Oster, W. Prellwitz, C. Luley, T. Meinertz, A. Geibel, and W. Kasper,Medicine and Biology, P. Brätter, P. Schramel, and Walter de Gruyter, eds., vol. 4, p. 579 (1987).
T. Westermark,Acta Pharmacol. Toxicol. 41, 121 (1977).
O. Oster, M. Drexler, J. Schenk, T. Meinertz, W. Kasper, C. J. Schuster, and W. Prellwitz,Ann. Clin. Res. 18, 36 (1983).
L. O. Plantin, I. Björkhem, and A. Hamsten, Second International Conference on Elements in Health and Disease, Karachi, Pakistan (1987).
O. A. Levander, G. Alfthan, H. Arvilommi, C. G. Gref, J. K. Huttunen, M. Kataja, P. Koivistoinen, and J. Pikkarainen,Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 37, 887 (1983).
Y. X. Wang, K. Böcker, A. Reuter, J. Kiem, K. Kasperek, G. V. Jyengar, F. Loogen, R. Gross, and L. E. Feinendegen,Klin. Wochenschr. 59, 817 (1981).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Oster, O., Prellwitz, W. Selenium and cardiovascular disease. Biol Trace Elem Res 24, 91–103 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02917198
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02917198