SE STATUS IN NORMAL AND PATHOLOGICAL HUMAN INDIVIDUALS BEFORE AND AFTER SE SUPPLEMENTATION

The determination of selenium in plasma and in urine samples has been suggested for the assessment of Se status in human individuals. The ki dney is of fundamental importance in Se homeostasis: with low Se intak e its excretion will be decreased and with high Se intake it will be i ncreased. In 21 patients with kidney disease (8 with normal kidney fun ction and 13 with moderate renal failure) Se was measured in 1 mi of u rine by PIXE after preconcentration of the sample. The total urine vol ume was measured to calculate total daily Se excretion. The same proce dure was applied to 14 normal individuals for comparison. All individu als were then supplemented orally with selenite for 8 weeks (Se = 600 mu g/day) and the procedure was repeated. The behaviour of the major s elenoproteins was also investigated by measuring glutathione peroxidas e activities in plasma, in platelets and in erythrocyte samples. For r enal function, serum and urine creatinine concentrations were utilised and creatinine clearances were calculated. Results obtained were comp ared before and after Se treatment and between groups. Some correlatio n studies were carried out between Se and kidney functions and/or sele noperoxidase activities.