Improved survival in murine lupus as the result of selenium supplementation.

Selenium is a trace mineral and a required nutrient for animals and humans. Selenium intake appears to be inversely correlated with the risk of developing cancer. Since immunological effects of selenium have been described we studied the capacity of selenium to modify the lupus-like disease of NZB/NZW female mice. Our data indicate that selenium supplementation (sodium selenite 4 parts per million in the drinking water) significantly improves survival in these autoimmune mice: mean survival 55.6 +/- 4.6 weeks (mean +/- s.e.) for treated mice versus 36.1 +/- 1.9 weeks for controls (P less than 0.04). Additionally, selenium supplemented mice had significantly higher natural killer cell activity (P less than 0.001). However, no obvious effects of selenium supplementation on autoantibody production were observed.