|
Selenium deficiency could increase the severity of influenza
Poor nutritional status, such as selenium deficiency,
could contribute to the emergence of new viral strains that cause more
severe infections, according to American researchers.
Dr Melinda Beck, of the University of North Carolina,
Chapel Hill, United States, and colleagues studied the effect of selenium
deficiency on the pathology of a strain of influenza virus.
They found that infected, selenium-deficient mice
developed more severe pneumonitis (lung inflammation) than mice fed a
normal diet. Lung inflammation also lasted longer in mice deficient in
selenium.
In addition, the researchers analysed the viruses
for mutations, and found that in those used to infect mice fed a selenium-deficient
diet there were alterations in mRNA levels for cytokines and chemokines
involved in inflammatory responses.
In a recent press release issued on behalf of the
researchers, Dr Beck said: “Specific nutritional deficiencies can have
a profound impact on the genome of RNA viruses. Poor nutritional status
may contribute to the emergence of new viral strains and might promote
epidemics.”
The study appears in The FASEB Journal (2001;15:1481),
published by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.
|
