Subjects consuming protein-restricted diets, such as patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) or milder hyperphenylalaninemias (HPAs) are at risk of selenium deficiency. Selenium is a cofactor of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase and of the thyroid hormone converting enzyme thyroxine deiodinase.
University Hospital, Children's Clinic, Division of Metabolic Diseases, and the Chemical Central Laboratory, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. marit.vanbakel@dkf2.unibe.ch
