[Decrease of the serum level of selenium in chronic alcoholics with or without dilated cardiomyopathy].

Serum selenium concentrations were measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 31 controls and 101 patients with the following results (mean +/- s.e.m; microgram . l-1: controls: 86.27 +/- 2.26; 24 chronic alcoholics without denutrition: 63.29 +/- 3.19; 38 patients with denutrition (64.75 +/- 3.68) divided into chronic alcoholics (n = 27); 65.24 +/- 3.49 and non-alcoholics (n = 11): 63.55 +/- 4.15; 39 patients with cardiomyopathy (68.89 +/- 3.43) divided into chronic alcoholics (n = 21): 67.61 +/- 3.10 and non-alcoholics (n = 18): 72.56 +/- 3.82. Compared with values in the control group, the fall in mean serum selenium concentrations was statistically significant (P less than 0.001) in all groups of patients. In contrast, there was no significant difference in mean serum selenium concentrations between patients with cardiomyopathy and those with denutrition, alcoholic or not. Chronic alcoholism and denutrition are accompanied by a fall in blood selenium level. The decrease of serum selenium concentrations in alcoholic and non-alcoholic patients of the third group suggests that congestive cardiomyopathy is associated with selenium deficiency. These findings indicate that patients with congestive cardiomyopathy should be evaluated not only for alcoholism, but also for their nutritional status.