title: Relationship between dietary fatty acid, selenium, and degenerative cardiomyopathy.
abstract: With the finding of an increasing number of cases of degenerative cardiomyopathy (DCM) amongst patients in Chongqing, Sichuan, People's Republic of China, an attempt has been made to delineate possible etiological factors. In this province endemic for Keshan disease and with considerable consumption of oils high in erucic acid, the latter does not appear to be an operative noxious agent in DCM. Additionally, it does not appear to be caused by excessive oxygen radicals, low levels of antioxidants or low selenium levels. However, lower omega-3 fatty acid levels along with higher serum lipids may be the mechanism, via higher thromboxane levels, of the production of the myocardial degeneration seen in DCM.
authors.affiliation: Kenneth L. Jordan Heart Fund, Montclair, NJ.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bierenbaum
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watkins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004883:Erucic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019301:Oleic Acid; D009829:Oleic Acids / Q000097:blood; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000032:analysis; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D004883:Erucic Acids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D008055:Lipids; D009829:Oleic Acids; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D014810:Vitamin E; D019301:Oleic Acid; D012643:Selenium