Selenium supplement level in treatment of severe neurodevelopmental retardation

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Range 3-5 ug selenium/kg body weight
Organism Human Homo sapiens
Reference Ramaekers VT, Calomme M, Vanden Berghe D, Makropoulos W. Selenium deficiency triggering intractable seizures. Neuropediatrics. 1994 Aug25(4):217-23.PubMed ID7824095
Method Two children with severe neurodevelopmental retardation and elevated liver function tests developed intractable seizures during the first year of life. Oral substitution with selenium supplements in both children (3-5 micrograms/kg body weight) resulted in reduction of seizures and improvement of the EEG recordings after two weeks while liver function became normal.
Comments Two of the seleno-dependent enzymes Glutathione Peroxidase (GPX) and Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase (PHGPX) are speculated to play a key-role in the defence of neuronal cells against oxygen radical formation and peroxidative processes. Researchers' findings support the hypothesis that the presence of selenium depletion in the brain amongst patients with epilepsy constitutes an important triggering factor for the origin of intractable seizures and subsequent neuronal damage.
Entered by Uri M
ID 104531