Selenium deficiency and chronic pancreatitis: disease mechanism and potential for therapy.
BACKGROUND
It has been suggested that antioxidant deficiency may play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic pancreatitis. The aim of this review was to analyse the evidence for this relationship and to consider the role of antioxidant supplementation in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis.


METHODS
Medline review of all English language publications for the years 1966-1998.


CONCLUSIONS
There is evidence that patients with chronic pancreatitis have enhanced levels of free radical production, cytochrome P450 induction and antioxidant deficiencies, in particular selenium. The limited published literature in this field suggests that dietary antioxidant supplementation may ameliorate the pain associated with chronic pancreatitis, diminish the frequency of acute exacerbations and reduce the requirement for pancreatic surgery. These findings await confirmation by a large prospective placebo-controlled study.
Bowrey
D J
DJ
University Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom. bowrey@cf.ac.uk
Morris-Stiff
G J
GJ
Puntis
M C
MC
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000172:deficiency*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000975:Antioxidants; D012643:Selenium