Selenium Levels in Alzheimers Disease: A Study from Kerala

Oxidative stress resulting from free radicals released during metabolism is among the major pathophysiological processes responsible for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). As a component of the antioxidant defence system, selenium plays a significant role in combating oxidative damage. Alterations of selenium concentrations in plasma and brain are hypothesized to affect the neurodegenerative process and dietary supplementation has been proposed as adjunctive treatment. Studies of plasma selenium concentrations the world over, have yielded conflicting and inconsistent results. Our aim was to analyse plasma selenium levels among AD patients in this region. Using a prospective case-control design, plasma selenium level of 30 patients and 30 controls was estimated using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry. Selenium levels were found to be elevated in patients compared to controls but did not reach statistical significance. Selenium supplementation is unlikely to benefit AD patients from Central Kerala.