To test the hypothesis that acute pancreatitis is a free radical disease,
selenium injections were given to 8 acute cases in a randomized clinical study.
No patients died in this group, whereas 8/9 (89%) of patients in the control
group died.
Kuklinski B et al: Akute Pankreatitis - eine "free radical disease".
Letalitatssenkung durch Natriumselenit-Therapie. Z gesamte Inn Med
46(5):145-149, 1991.
In a 20-week double-blind trial using daily supplements of selenium (600 ug),
beta-carotene (9,000 iu), vitamin C (540 mg), vitamin E (270 iu) and methionine
(2 g) on recurrent pancreatitis, a number of biochemical markers were
normalized, particularly those relating to oxidative stress. Uden S et al: Antioxidant therapy for recurrent pancreatitis: biochemical
profiles in a placebo-controlled trial. Aliment Pharmacol Ther
6(2):229-40, 1992.
Of 330 acute pancreatitis sufferers treated with selenium, there were only 8
deaths, and complications occurred only if the selenium treatment was begun too
late
Kuklinski B et al: Letalitatssenkung der akuten Pankreatitis mit Natriumselenit.
Klinische Resultate einer vierjahrigen Antioxidanzientherapie. Med Klin
90 Suppl 1:36-41, 1995.
