The Relationship between Serum Selenium Levels and The Occurrence of Eye Tumors

Abstract

Eye tumors are serious diseases with high morbidity and mortality rates. Risk factors include UV-B radiation, immune system disorders, smoking, HPV infection, p53 gene mutations, and free radical exposure. Selenium, an antioxidant through selenoproteins, serves as a chemoprotective agent against cancer. This case–control study was conducted to evaluate the association between serum selenium levels and eye tumors at RS Prof. C.P.L. Universitas Sumatera Utara from June to July 2024. The study included 20 eye tumor patients and 20 controls, with 11 females and 9 males in each group. The mean age was 43.55 years in the tumor group and 41.65 years in controls. In the eye tumor group, 45% were overweight, while 55% of the control group were normoweight. Among tumor patients, 65% had benign and 35% had malignant lesions. Serum selenium levels were significantly lower in the tumor group than in controls (100.03 ± 27.93 µg/L vs 213.15 ± 33.09 µg/L; p < 0.001). Patients with malignant tumors had lower selenium levels than those with benign tumors (87.37 ± 30.68 vs 106.84 ± 24.91 µg/L). Selenium levels were significantly associated with body mass index in tumor patients (p = 0.036), but not in controls (p = 0.083).