Effects of a low selenium state in patients with phenylketonuria.

Eighty-seven participants of the German Collaboratory Study for Children with Phenylketonuria (PKU) presented low plasma, whole blood and hair selenium (Se) values, reduced urinary selenium excretion, and decreased plasma and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity in comparison with a healthy reference group (all figures p < 0.001). Aspartate amino transferase and thyroxine (T4) concentrations in plasma were inversely correlated with the selenium blood values of the PKU children. Somatic measurements showed a negative standard deviation score of body height in the PKU children compared with reference values. Despite the different Se supply, the infants did not present any specific Se deficiency symptoms.