Blood selenium concentrations are significantly lower in patients with Alzheimer’s disease compared to healthy controls. This reduction in selenium concentration is directly associated with the observed reduced levels of the important antioxidant selenoprotein, glutathione peroxidase, in Alzheimer’s disease patients.
These are the conclusions of the authors of a 2017 meta-analysis of 12 case-control studies of selenium concentrations in Alzheimer’s disease patients and healthy controls. The 12 case-control studies comprised 594 Alzheimer’s disease patients and 472 healthy controls [Reddy].
Selenium and Alzheimer’s disease meta-analysis
The results of the systematic review and meta-analysis revealed the following associations:
- Significantly decreased selenium levels were seen in the blood circulation of Alzheimer’s disease patients as compared to healthy controls.
- Decreased selenium levels were also seen in the red blood cells and cerebrospinal fluid of Alzheimer’s patients as compared to healthy controls. However, the difference in selenium concentrations did not reach the level of statistical significance.
- Age matching between the Alzheimer’s disease patients and healthy controls showed decreased selenium levels regardless of the age of the patients. This is interesting because advanced age is considered a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
- Controlling for socio-economic, geographical, and environmental differences also showed the decreased selenium levels in Alzheimer’s disease patients compared to the healthy controls.
- A direct association was seen between decreased selenium levels and glutathione peroxidase levels in Alzheimer’s disease patients.
What is glutathione peroxidase, and why is it important?
The glutathione peroxidases (abbreviated GPx) are a family of antioxidant enzymes (selenoproteins) that reduce and thus neutralize potentially harmful radicals like hydrogen peroxide and lipid hydroperoxides. In so doing, the GPx enzymes lessen the extent of oxidative stress damage.