Depressed selenium and vitamin E levels in an alcoholic population. Possible relationship to hepatic injury through increased lipid peroxidation.

Serum selenium and vitamin E levels have been measured in subjects with established alcoholic liver disease, in alcoholics within the community, and in appropriate controls. Both serum selenium and vitamin E levels were shown to be significantly depressed (P less than 0.01) in the alcoholic study groups and serum selenium was more markedly depressed in subjects with established liver disease (controls, serum selenium 108 +/- 13 micrograms/liter, vitamin E 27.6 +/- 7.2 mumol/liter; community alcoholics, serum selenium 94 +/- 19 micrograms/liter, vitamin E 15.3 +/- 3.4 mumol/liter; alcoholic liver disease, serum selenium 78 +/- 15 micrograms/liter, vitamin E 14.7 +/- 5.6 mumol/liter). Depressed serum selenium levels correlated closely with poor nutritional status (r = 0.91). There were no changes in serum glutathione peroxidase activity. Liver disease activity, as judged by transaminase (AST), was more markedly abnormal in subjects with combined vitamin E and selenium deficiency compared to those with normal levels or isolated deficiencies (no deficiency, AST 48 +/- 19 units, combined deficiency, AST 75 +/- 21 units, P less than 0.03). Serum lipid peroxides were elevated in those with combined deficiency and the values correlated significantly with serum transaminases (r = 0.40, P = 0.03).