Selenium Supplementation of Patients With Cirrhosis

Liver Disease Clinical Trial

Official title: Selenium Supplementation of Patients With Cirrhosis

Status Terminated

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether patients with liver cirrhosis can improve their selenium nutritional status by taking supplemental selenium.

Clinical Trial Description

Selenium is an essential nutrient. Selenium carries out its biological functions through selenoproteins. The liver converts dietary selenium to a form that can be used to make selenoproteins. Patients with cirrhosis have much lower selenium levels than healthy individuals. We hypothesize that patients with cirrhosis are unable to utilize dietary selenium for selenoprotein synthesis. These patients may benefit from another form of selenium: selenate.

We will compare the effects of two supplemental forms of selenium on plasma selenium levels in patients with cirrhosis. Patients will be randomized to receive either a placebo, 200 µg selenomethionine, 200 µg selenate or 400 µg selenate, daily, for 8 weeks. We will measure selenium levels in the blood at baseline, week 4 and week 8. We will determine which forms of selenium, if any, increased plasma selenium levels of the cirrhosis patients. ;

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Liver Disease
• Liver Diseases

• NCT number: NCT00271245
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Vanderbilt University
• Status: Terminated
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: February 2006
• Completion date: March 2012