title: Serum selenium levels in individuals on PKU diets.
abstract: Serum selenium levels in 73 patients with phenylketonuria were significantly lower than in controls. The phenylketonuric and hyperphenylalaninaemic individuals taking the non-supplemented amino acid mixture generally had lower levels: 36% were below the normal range as defined by our laboratory, compared with 19% in the supplemented group. The low levels were present even in those on diet, who had a greater phenylalanine tolerance--that is, a tolerance for more than 9 x 50 mg phenylalanine exchanges per day, in other words a higher intake of natural protein. Individuals on long-term synthetic diets may be at risk for selenium deficiency even on selenium supplements. In areas where the soil may be low in selenium, the deficiency may be aggravated. Long-term low levels may impair health but the required amount of selenium supplementation remains uncertain.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, Dublin, Eire.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Darling
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mathias
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Regan
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Naughten
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005526:Food, Formulated; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000097:blood; D010661:Phenylketonurias / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency
chemical_list: D010649:Phenylalanine; D012643:Selenium