An Occidental Case of Cardiomyopathy and Selenium Deficiency

SELENIUM is a trace element that until recently has been considered unimportant in human nutrition, except when ingested in excessive amounts.¹ During the past decade, Chinese investigators have shown that selenium deficiency is one of the principal factors responsible for Keshan disease, a “dilated” (congestive) cardiomyopathy that affects persons (mainly children and young women) living in rural areas of a selenium-deficient zone in China.^{2 3 4} This report describes an Occidental patient in whom selenium deficiency became associated with dilated cardiomyopathy. Case Report A 43-year-old man had been receiving parenteral alimentation for two years (one liter of FreAmine 11 [an amino acid.