Serum Selenium Levels in Glaucoma: a Pilot Study

Abstract

Background Trace elements are assumed to be involved in glaucoma pathogenesis via changes in oxidative stress. Especially serum selenium (Se) has been linked to this neurodegenerative disease. Serum Se levels differ between countries due to nutrition and ethnicity. It was the aim of the present study to investigate serum Se levels in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients and controls in Germany and to consider potential age and gender effects.

Material and Methods The Se concentration of 39 serum samples (22 patients with POAG, 17 controls) were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-sector field mass spectrometry (ICP-sf-MS) in high resolution mode. Covariance and percentile regression were analyzed. Age and gender were defined as confounding factors and their different trends were investigated. Moreover, age was examined across different quantiles of Se levels.

Results Total serum least-squares means (LS-means) Se levels were 132.02 µg/L (controls) and 134.86 µg/L (POAG). Total serum Se levels did not differ between the study groups (p > 0.05). Significant age and gender effects of serum Se were observed. Quantile analysis showed that the 1st serum Se quantile decreased with increasing age in POAG patients in contrast to controls. The odds ratios of the 1st serum Se were 1.3 (with 2nd quantile) and 1.3 (with 3rd quantile), respectively.

Conclusion The serum Se level of the German cohort was almost half of those of the published US cohort (glaucoma 209.11 ng/mL; control 194.45 ng/mL). Age and gender effects were observed; the serum Se level increased with age in women (controls and POAG), however, Se levels decreased with age in men (controls and POAG).

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund Spurenelemente können über oxidativen Stress vermittelte molekulare Interaktionen in die Pathogenese der Glaukomerkrankung eingreifen. Vor allem für das Spurenelement Selen (Se) wird eine Mitbeteiligung postuliert. Der Selengehalt im Serum wird unter anderem über die Ernährung gesteuert und unterliegt damit kulturellen und ethnischen Variabilitäten. Das Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war es, den Serumselenspiegel bei Patienten mit primärem Offenwinkelglaukom (pOWG) im Vergleich zu einer Kontrollgruppe zu analysieren. Diese Ergebnisse der vorliegenden deutschen Kohorte wurden auf mögliche Alters- und Gendereffekte hin untersucht sowie ins Verhältnis zu der bislang einzig beschriebenen Kohorte in den US gesetzt.

Material und Methoden Die Selenkonzentration wurde von 39 Serumproben (22 pOWG, 17 Kontrollen) anhand der Inductively coupled Plasma-sector Field Mass Spectrometry (ICP-sf-MS) analysiert. Die statistische Analyse umfasste eine Kovarianz-, Perzentilenregressions-, Alters- und Genderanalyse.

Ergebnisse Die Serumselenkonzentration (Ls-mean) betrug 134,86 µg/l für Patienten mit pOWG und 132,02 µg/l für die Kontrollgruppe. Der Serumselengehalt zwischen diesen beiden Gruppen zeigte keinen signifikanten Unterschied (p > 0,05). Jedoch war ein dezenter Alters- und Gendereffekt zu beobachten. Die Quantilanalyse erbrachte eine Reduktion der 1. Serumselenquantile mit ansteigendem Alter bei den Patienten mit pOWG im Gegensatz zu den Kontrollprobanden. Die Odds Ratio der 1. Quantile betrug 1,3 (jeweils in Bezug zur 2. und 3. Quantile).

Zusammenfassung Der Serumselengehalt von Patienten mit pOWG zeigte sich als ca. halb so hoch wie der publizierte Wert der US-Literaturkohorte (Glaukom 209,11 ng/ml; Kontrolle 194,45 ng/ml). Zusätzlich war ein leichter Alters- und Gendereffekt zu beobachten.

Key words

glaucoma - selenium - trace element - age - gender - ICP-sf-MS

Schlüsselwörter

Glaukom - Selen - Spurenelement - Alter - Geschlecht - ICP-sf-MS

Publication History

Received: 14 August 2020

Accepted: 13 November 2020

Article published online:
19 February 2021

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