High dose antioxidant supplementation to MS patients. Effects on glutathione peroxidase, clinical safety, and absorption of selenium.
High-dose antioxidant supplementation has recently been recommended for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. This study tests the clinical safety, the glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) activity, and the absorption of selenium during such supplementation. Eighteen MS patients were given 6 tablets especially made for this study, equivalent to 6 mg sodium selenite, 2 g vitamin C, and 480 mg vitamin E a day for five wk. GSH-px, which was lower than in non-MS controls before the start of treatment, increased fivefold during 5 wk of treatment. Side effects were scarce. Ten MS patients were subjected to a 24-h selenium absorption study after ingestion of 2 active tablets, equivalent to 2 mg sodium selenite. Selenium, which was low initially, increased 24% during the first 3 h and then stabilized. It is concluded that the tested antioxidant treatment seems to be safe and that MS patients have low GSH-px, which may be increased by the tested antioxidant treatment.
Department of Neurology, Arhus Kommunehospital, Denmark.
J
J
Mai
P S
PS
Sørensen
J C
JC
Hansen
D000042:Absorption; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D013607:Tablets; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology
D000975:Antioxidants; D013607:Tablets; D014810:Vitamin E; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D012643:Selenium; D001205:Ascorbic Acid