Selenium level does not differ in blood but increased in cerebrospinal fluid in Parkinson’s disease: a meta-analysis

Objective: Recent studies have found that selenium (Se) levels were associated with the risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD), but the results were contradictory. Therefore, this meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the correlation between Se levels and PD.Methods: PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were searched published up to 28 October 2019. The differences between groups were analyzed by forest plots and results were pooled and assessed using a random-effect model. Standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to assess the association between Se levels and the risk of PD. Subgroup analysis, meta-regression, and sensitivity analysis were also conducted. Publication bias was estimated using Begg’s regression asymmetry test.Results: Finally, 12 articles involving 601 PD patients and 749 controls were included in this meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed a significantly higher cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Se level in PD patients than those in controls (SMD = 1.22; 95%CI [0.05, 2.39]; p = 0.000). No publication bias was found.Conclusion: The meta-analysis indicated that CSF Se levels in PD patients were significantly higher than those in controls.