Blood Selenium Level in Chronic Alcoholics

Abstract

Blood selenium level in Japanese chronic alcoholics was determined fluorometrically. Two groups were studied. One group consisted of 26 male chronic alcoholics (mean age of 45 yr. with a range of 26- 58 yr.) without severe malnutrition or hepatic dysfunction. They had, at least, 10 year-history of alcohol abuse at 1.8L Sake/ day. Another group consisted of 17 heathy male controls (mean age of 44 yr. with a range of 17-61 yr.) without significant history of ethanol abuse. Serum and red blood cell selenium levels were measured on the day of admission, one week and one month after admission, respectively. Serum selenium levels in the alcoholics did not differ significantly from the controls throughout the observation period (0.112 μg/ml on admission in alcoholics vs. 0.117 in control). Red blood cell selenium level in- creased significantly in the alcoholics (0.838 μg/gHb in alcoholics vs. 0. 728 in control). The increased erythrocytes selenium level may suggest a significant role of selenium in chronic alcoholics.