title: Plasma-selenium, glutathione peroxidase in erythrocytes and mercury in plasma in patients allegedly subject to oral galvanism.
abstract: Twelve patients with subjective symptoms, ascribed by the patients themselves to mercury released from dental restorations, were investigated. In addition to a general dental examination the following parameters were registered: the total number of amalgam surfaces in the mouth; potential and polarization of existing and accessible dental metallic restorations for calculation of intraoral currents. As regards the highest calculated intraoral current for each individual there was a statistically significant difference between the patient group and a control group consisting of 12 persons. An analysis of the amount of selenium, glutathione-peroxidase and mercury in the blood showed no differences between the patient and the control group. However, a statistically significant positive correlation could be seen between the total number of amalgam surfaces and the plasma-mercury level for patients and controls pooled together. The numerous other blood parameters analyzed did not reveal any differences between the groups.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000009:adverse effects; D004570:Electrogalvanism, Intraoral; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D003723:Dental Amalgam; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D008628:Mercury; D012643:Selenium