Determination of selenium in blood serum of children with leukemia using neutron activation analysis

Selenium is a trace element and an essential part of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, which protect cells from oxidative damage. Selenium has been shown to have anti proliferative, anti-inflammatory antiviral, and immune altering effects. Serum selenium levels were measured by neutron activation analysis in two groups of children. These groups were healthy children (n+30) and children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, A.L.L. (L 1,n+20; L 2,n=20) before and after induction chemotherapy. Age, sex, FAB, initial W.B.C., B.U.N., creatinine and urinary analysis did not influence significantly the amount of selenium in serum. Serum selenium concentration of A.L.L. children before chemotherapy showed no significant differences as compared with that of normal individuals. Immediately after induction chemotherapy, serum selenium levels in A.L.L. children decreased significantly (80.14+-15.48 ng/ml. vs. 110.72+-28.3 ng/ml., P<0.001)