Experience with selenium used to recover adrenocortical function in patients taking glucocorticosteroids long

Abstract

AIM: To study the effect of selenium on adrenocortical function in patients taking glucocorticosteroids (GCS) long/MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 56 patients who had been long taking oral GCS for the underlying disease. Adrenocortical function was evaluated by a short synacthen test; adrenal insufficiency (mean cortisol level 8.2 µg/dl) was identified in 52 patients. A study group of patients (n=35) was given selenium 200 µg/day. A control group (n=17) with the detected adrenal insufficiency did not take it. All the patients (n=52) continued to receive standard therapy for the underlying disease, including oral GCS/RESULTS: Adrenal function was reexamined 6 months later; the two paired-samples t-test indicated a statistically significant increase in cortisol levels up to 23.20±4.2 µg/dl (p≤0.05) in the patient group receiving selenium in addition to the basic therapy. In the control group, the function did not recover (cortisol levels were 8.6 and 9.8 µg/dl at baseline and at 6 months, respectively; p≤0.05)/CONCLUSION: The experience with selenium 200 µg/day given long to patients with adrenal insufficiency caused by the long-term use of GCS shows that the agent is effective in recovering adrenocortical function.

Keywords

• adrenal insufficiency
• glucocorticosteroids
• selenium
• antioxidants