title: Selenium and vitamin E treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy: no effect on muscle function.
abstract: 16 boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) were treated with sodium selenite and vitamin E for one year. One group of patients (10 boys) was examined using a battery of tests to assess muscular strength and function and cardiopulmonary function, and by CT scanning of 2 muscle groups over the 4 years prior to treatment. Six boys with DMD entered the study when the treatment was begun. Tests of muscular force and function, cardiopulmonary tests and CT-scanning were performed at the onset of treatment, and after 6 and 12 months. No beneficial effect on either muscular force or function was found during the treatment period. It is concluded that selenium and vitamin E in high doses do not improve muscle function in DMD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurophysiology, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bäckman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nylander
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Henriksson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tagesson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009136:Muscular Dystrophies / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012643:Selenium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014810:Vitamin E; D012643:Selenium