Serum selenium levels and blood glutathione peroxidase activities in vitiligo

Authors: Beazley¹; Gaze¹; Panske²; Panzig³; Schallreuter¹

Source: British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 141, Number 2, August 1999 , pp. 301-303(3)

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Abstract:

It has recently been shown that patients with vitiligo can accumulate epidermal hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in association with low catalase levels. This study examined serum selenium levels and blood glutathione peroxidase activities in 61 patients and controls. The results showed high serum selenium levels in 56% of the patients. As at least one isoform of glutathione peroxidase requires selenium for its activity, enzyme activities were also evaluated. The overall results were not significantly different compared with controls, but further age-related analysis of the data indicated significantly lower activities in patients up to 46 years. As glutathione peroxidase can also efficiently degrade H₂O₂, the results of this study could indicate an additional impaired H₂O₂ metabolism in vitiligo.

Keywords: catalase; glutathione peroxidase; hydrogen peroxide; serum selenium; vitiligo

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2133.1999.02980.x

Affiliations: 1: Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, U.K. 2: Vitiligo Clinic/Department for Oral Maxillo-facial Surgery 3: Institute for Clinical Chemistry, E.M.Arndt University Greifswald, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany

Publication date: 1999-08-01