External respiration function and quality of life in patients with bronchial asthma in correction of selenium deficiency

Aim. To examine the effect of selenium (Se) adjuvant therapy on external respiration function (ERF) and quality of life (QOL) in bronchial asthma (BA) patients. Material and methods. 26 patients with BA received standard therapy and adjuvant 200 mcg/day selenium (SelenoPRECISE, PharmaNord, Denmark) for 16 weeks. ERF was estimated by FEV1 and FVC, QOF - by the response to Juniper Adult Asthma Quality of life Short Questionnaire (AQLQ-S) at initiation and end of the study Difference with the baseline was assessed using Paired Samples T-Test, SPSS 14.0. Results. Paired-samples T-test showed that FVC increased significantly from 76.5 ± 23.8% to 81.8 ± 23.2% (p = 0.015). FEV1 showed a significant increase from 62.3 ± 29.6% to 67.7 ± 28.1% (p = 0.018). Total AQLQ score elevated from 3.25 to 4.71 (p = 0.01). Conclusion. Correction of Se deficiency in BA patients on standard therapy improves ERF and BA-related QOL. Mechanisms of a protective Se action are involved in antioxidant defense by means of Se participation in enzymatic detoxication of peroxides and a stabilizing effect on biomembranes.