Status of trace elements in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in central Taiwan.

Sporadic cases of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) are often seen in central Taiwan. Though trace elements may play a role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic DCM, there are no reports concerning study of Taiwan's population in relation to trace elements in patients with DCM.Serum selenium, zinc, copper and iron concentrations and blood glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity were measured in 32 patients with DCM (24 males, 8 females; mean age, 44 +/- 14 years) and 31 age-matched normal volunteers (16 males, 15 females; mean age, 38 +/- 12 years).The average serum selenium concentration of 27.6 +/- 8.4 micrograms/l found in the DCM group was significantly lower than the average concentration of 47.2 +/- 14.7 micrograms/l in the normal group. Blood GPX activity was also significantly lower in the DCM group than in the normal group. Serum selenium concentration correlated well with blood GPX activity in the studied subjects. Serum copper and iron concentrations were significantly higher in the DCM group than in the normal group. There was no difference in serum zinc concentration between the two groups.Deficiency of serum selenium in association with a low blood GPX activity, and high serum copper and iron concentrations, are found in patients with idiopathic DCM in central Taiwan.