Keshan Disease

By: Tyler Marshall

Keshan Diseaseo It is a selenium deficiencyo It is an essential mineral, required in small

amountso It is strictly environmentalo Selenium is incorporated into proteins to make

selenoproteins (antioxidant enzymes)o Selenoproteins are important antioxidants that

help prevent cellular damage from free radicalso Also helps regulate thyroid function and plays a

role in the immune system

Backgroundo It is common in places such as China and Russiao It derived from China where it was found in

children and young womeno Although it can also occur in meno Highest prevalence is boys under age 15 and

women of childbearing ageo Not a problem in the United Stateso If the soil where plants are grown and animals are

raised contain low levels of selenium then the disease can develop

Backgroundo United States has areas with high levels of

selenium in their soil such as Nebraska and the Dakota

o Food distribution through the country helps prevent low selenium intake

o Keshan Disease does still rarely occur• At times when someone is being fed through a

vein (IV line) for a long period of time • RDA for males and females is 55 micrograms per

day

Signs and Symptoms

o Fatigueo Heart muscle weaknesso Diarrheao Vomitingo Fevero Body Pains o Lethargy

ArrhythmiaCardiac InsufficiencyHeart Enlargement- which

can lead to heart failure

Loss of heart tissue

Treatmento Aside from change in diet a selenium supplement can

be takeno Won’t reverse heart muscle damage once it occurso So monitor and treat early before damage occurso In China they treat the condition with astragalus

which is a herb that accumulates selenium from the soil

o If necessary and even possible surgery can be performed to correct the heart condition

o Foods rich in selenium are Brazil nuts, fish, eggs, chicken breasts, and grains

Diet Meal PlanBreakfast

Day 1 Selenium Day 2 Selenium Day 3 Selenium• Egg Sandwich• Amount in egg

15 • Quaker puffed wheat cereal

67 • Oatmeal and Toast on with whole wheat bread

15, 11

• With Cheddar cheese

4 • Toast with whole wheat bread

11 • Black walnuts 5

• With turkey 27 • Glass of milk

0 • Cocoa: cocoa mix, with aspartame

23

Glass of milk 0 • Glass of Milk 0

Total: 46 78 54

Selenium measured in micrograms

Lunch MealDay 1 Selenium Day 2 Selenium Day 3 Selenium• Turkey sandwich• Amount of

Turkey:

27 • Tuna sandwich

• Amount of light canned tuna:

68 • Turkey sandwich

• Amount of Turkey:

27

• With cheddar cheese

4 • Side of shrimp

44.91 • With cheddar cheese

4

• With spinach and whole wheat bread

2.70, 11 • Side of asparagus

3.08 • With spinach and whole wheat bread

2.70, 11

Glass of apple juice 0 Glass of apple juice

0 • Glass of apple juice

0

Total: 44.70 115.99 44.70

Selenium measured in micrograms

Dinner MealDay 1 Selenium Day 2 Selenium Day 3 Selenium• Brown Rice 10 • Ground beef

manwich18 • Macaroni

and cheese with chicken

• Amount in macaroni :

19

• Chicken breast 24 • With mushrooms

36.85 • Cheddar cheese and Cut chicken breast

4, 24

• Glass of water 0 • Glass of water

0 • Glass of water

0

Total: 34 54.85 47

Daily Totals 124.70 248.84 145.70

Selenium measured in micrograms

Questionso Why is Keshan disease only common in certain

areas of the world?o The soil in these areas have low levels of seleniumo Besides changing your diet how can Keshan

disease be treated?o A selenium supplement can be taken or if it’s

possible and necessary surgery can be performed.o True or False: Selenium deficiency is a common

problem in the United States?o False

Resourceso http://flipper.diff.org/app/items/info/3393o Keshan diesease and selenium; Degidio; Health World

December 1996o Absorption, distribution and excretion of selenium

from beef and rice in healthy North American men1, 2; Hawkes, Chris, Alkan, Zeynep, Oehler, and Lynn; The Journal of Nutrition November 2003

o Foods And Nutrition Encyclopedia 2nd Edition; Ensminger A., Ensminger M.E., Konlande, and Robson

o http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002414.htm

o http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/selenium?print=1