Hair selenium levels in hepatic steatosis patients.

The purpose of this study was to assess hair selenium levels of liver patients suffering from hepatic simple steatosis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in central areas of China. Selenium was measured by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer equipped with the hydride generation system. The levels of selenium in healthy individuals ranged between 0.3 and 0.9 μg/g, and mean hair selenium levels in the male population and female population were 0.59 ± 0.18 and 0.57 ± 0.15 μg/g, respectively. These concentrations did not vary significantly (P > 0.05) in relation to the gender. One hundred-eighteen individuals of both sexes aged between 15 and 60 years with hepatic simple steatosis and NASH were selected for this study. The mean and standard deviation of hair selenium concentrations observed in male and female patients with hepatic simple steatosis were 0.54 ± 0.16 and 0.50 ± 0.15 μg/g, respectively, while the mean and standard deviation of hair selenium concentrations observed in male and female patients with NASH were 0.40 ± 0.14 and 0.41 ± 0.12 μg/g. Analysis of t test showed a significant difference between NASH (P < 0.001) patients in hair selenium concentrations when compared with controls.