Effect of sodium nitrite on myocardial glutathione peroxidase and protective action of vitamin E and selenium.

Under the condition of acute NaNO2 poisoning, the changes of myocardial GSH-Px activity of rats fed a diet composed of grains grown in the endemic region of Keshan disease and the same diet with supplementation of vitamin E or selenium were investigated. By gavage of toxic doses of NaNO2, the myocardial GSH-Px was significantly reduced (P less than 0.05). Vitamin E or selenium supplementation protected the enzyme activity from reducing. It is suggested that the simultaneous action of an increase in selenium and vitamin E intake and a decrease in nitrite intake might greatly prevent the occurrence of Keshan disease.