There has been no report describing a deficiency of trace elements in oral and maxillofacial surgery because few patients receive long-term enteral nutrition.
In this report we describe a 52-year-old man who required long-term enteral nutrition because of cerebral infarction after an operation for a malignant tumor. After receiving enteral nutrition for 11 years, selenium deficiency occurred.
As for clinical symptoms, pale fingernails and low concentrations of selenium in serum were noted. There was no evidence of cardiac disease, but there was a risk of severe cardiomyopathy. Therefore, an oral preparation of 100μg per day of selenious acid was given prophylactically, and his serum selenium concentration and clinical symptoms became normal.
Glutathione peroxidase, in which selenium is an important active element, plays a part in cell structure and homeostasis. Some studies have shown that this enzyme is involved in immunity and the inhibition of cancer.
In the future, an increased prevalence of trace element deficiency is expected as more patients receive long-term enteral nutrition. We should be aware of the potential deficiency of trace elements such as selenium in such patients.
