Total antioxidant status reduction conditioned by a serum selenium concentration decrease as a mechanism of the ultrasonographically measured brachial artery dilatation impairment in patients with arterial hypertension

The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between serum concentrations of selenium (Se-S) and zinc (Zn-S), total antioxidant status (TAS) and endothelial function assessed by ultrasonographic method of dilatation of the brachial artery in 141 hypertensive patients. Patients with Se-S < median were characterized by a statistically significantly lower flow-mediated dilation (FMD) than patients with Se-S >= median. Patients with TAS < median were characterized by a significantly lower FMD than patients with TAS >= median. Older age, higher BMI, male gender, higher blood total cholesterol, ischemic heart disease, smoking and lower Se-S constitute independent predictors of inferior endothelial function, expressed in lower FMD values. Smoking is an independent predictor of lower TAS, and the use of beta-blockers and higher serum selenium levels are independent predictors of higher TAS. In summary, a decrease in TAS should be considered as a mechanism of inferior endothelial function in hypertensive patients conditioned by a decrease in Se-S.