Selenium status in psoriasis and its relations to the duration and severity of the disease

Abstract

Objective: We examined the role of selenium (Se) status in psoriasis and its relation to the severity and duration of the disease.

Methods: The study was conducted among 30 patients with psoriasis of less than 10 mo duration (study group 1, sg 1) and 30 with psoriasis of more than 3 y duration (study group 2, sg 2). Control groups (cg) consisted of 30 patients with short periods of skin disorders other than psoriasis and 24 healthy volunteers (cg 1 and cg 2, respectively). Plasma Se concentration and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in plasma and erythrocytes were measured to determine Se status.

Results: Plasma Se (microg/L) levels were 47.11 +/- 11.61 in sg 1, 38.69 +/- 13.22 in sg 2, 43.53 +/- 11.73 in cg 1, and 48.71 +/- 9.39 in cg 2; plasma GSH-Px (U/mL) levels, were 0.15 +/- 0.04, 0.14 +/- 0.04, 0.16 +/- 0.04, and 0.18 +/- 0.03, respectively; and erythrocyte GSH-Px (U/g of hemoglobin) levels were 13.97 +/- 4.27, 13.16 +/- 3.85, 14.25 +/- 3.84, and 14.35 +/- 3.35, respectively. Erythrocyte GSH-Px correlated inversely to severity of psoriasis in sg 2 (r = -0.37, P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Se status is depressed and related to the severity of the disease only in patients with psoriasis lasting more than 3 y.