Thiamin, selenium, and copper levels in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy taking diuretics.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the association of thiamin, selenium, and copper serum levels with cardiac function in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy using diuretics, and also to compare them with levels in control patients with no evidence of disease.


METHODS
The study comprised 30 patients with heart disease and 30 healthy control individuals. Thiamin was analyzed by measuring the activity of erythrocytic transketolase and the effect of thiamin pyrophosphate. Selenium and copper serum levels were measured by hydride generation and flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry, respectively.


RESULTS
Thiamin deficiency was observed in 10% of the control individuals and in 33% of the patients with heart disease (p=0.02). The mean selenium and copper serum levels in control individuals and patients with heart disease were, respectively, 73.2+/-9.9 microg/L (56.5 to 94.5 microg/L) and 72.3+/-14.3 microg/L (35.5 to 94 microg/L) (p=0.77); 1.1+/-0.4 mg/L (0.6 to 1.8 mg/L) and 1.2+/- 0.4 mg/L (0.6 to 2.2 mg/L) (p=0.27). No association between the levels of these nutrients and cardiac function was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Thiamin deficiency was significantly more frequent in patients with heart disease. No significant difference was observed between the mean selenium and copper serum levels in control individuals and in patients with heart disease. The results suggest possible benefits with thiamin replacement in patients taking diuretics.
da Cunha
Sérgio
S
Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto, IBRAG, Geologia - UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. sergio@netfly.cm.br
Albanesi Filho
Francisco Manes
FM
da Cunha Bastos
Vera Lúcia Freire
VL
Antelo
Domingos Senra
DS
Souza
Mário Miranda de
MM
D000328:Adult; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood*; D004232:Diuretics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013831:Thiamine / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013832:Thiamine Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy
D004232:Diuretics; D003300:Copper; D012643:Selenium; D013831:Thiamine