Effects of selenium and vitamin E on muscular strength and blood parameters in Steinert disease.

Six patients with Steinert disease were treated with selenium and vitamin E, for a 24 month period, including a first phase of 12 months, 6 months wash-out interval and a second treatment phase of 6 months. Mean segmental strength values showed significant improvement during the first 12 months of therapy, while marked reductions of serum enzymes CPK, SGOT, SGPT and gamma-GT were observed in some patients. The results support the hypothesis that selenium may play a role in the development of muscle damage in Steinert disease.