Genetic variations in GPX1 and SELENOP genes are associated with different responses of molecular and biochemical biomarkers of Se status after Brazil nut supplementation in healthy Brazilians. The SU.BRA.NUT study was registred at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT 03111355.

Supplementation with one Brazil nut a day for 8 weeks reduced total cholesterol and glucose levels. Furthermore, our results suggest that rs3877899 might be associated with glucose concentrations and rs7579 with cholesterol concentrations. Therefore, the effect of genetic variations should be considered in future nutritional interventions evaluating the response to Brazil nut supplementation.

Selenium (Se) status varies worldwide as a result of natural variation of Se content in soils, dietary pattern, and the presence of SNPs. Further, Se status in Brazilians and its relationship between genetic variation and Se biomarkers is unknown. This work investigated the association between SNPs in glutathione peroxidase genes and biomarkers of Se status in healthy Brazilians. The study was conducted in 116 healthy adults in São Paulo, Brazil. Plasma and erythrocyte Se were measured by HGFAAS. Erythrocyte GPx (eGPx) activity was measured spectrometrically in a biochemical analyzer. Genotypes were determined by real-time PCR using Taqman® Assays. eGPx activity was higher in females compared with males. Lower erythrocyte Se concentrations were found in heterozygous GC carriers for GPX1 rs8179169. eGPx activity was higher in females with the common genotypes, except for rs8179169. GC carriers for rs8179169 had lower erythrocyte Se in both genders, and only male carriers of the variant alleles of both rs1050450 and rs1800668 had higher eGPx activity. In conclusion, the genotype for SNPs in GPX1 and gender affected biomarkers of Se status in this pilot study with healthy Brazilians.

Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient for human health. Its beneficial effects are exerted by selenoproteins, which can be quantified in blood and used as molecular biomarkers of Se status. We hypothesize that the presence of genetic polymorphisms in selenoprotein genes may: (1) influence the gene expression of specific selenoproteins and (2) influence the pattern of global gene expression after Brazil nut supplementation. The study was conducted with 130 healthy volunteers in Sao Paulo, Brazil, who consumed one Brazil nut (300 μg/Se) a day for eight weeks. Gene expression of GPX1 and SELENOP and genotyping were measured by real-time PCR using TaqMan Assays. Global gene expression was assessed by microarray using Illumina HumanHT-12 v4 BeadChips. Brazil nut supplementation significantly increased GPX1 mRNA expression only in subjects with CC genotype at rs1050450 (p < 0.05). SELENOP mRNA expression was significantly higher in A-carriers at rs7579 either before or after supplementation (p < 0.05). Genotype for rs713041 in GPX4 affected the pattern of blood cell global gene expression. Genetic variations in selenoprotein genes modulated both GPX1 and SELENOP selenoprotein gene expression and global gene expression in response to Brazil nut supplementation.

In the majority of non-communicable chronic diseases (NTCD), considered today a serious public health problem, the oxidative stress contributes much to its complications. The main antioxidant system in mammals is the glutathione peroxidase. Recent studies have highlighted the relationship between polymorphisms in antioxidant enzymes genes and risk for such diseases. However, as there are very few data in the literature on the distribution of different polymorphisms in antioxidant enzymes with the brazilian population, this study proposes to correlate polymorphisms of glutathione peroxidase with biomarkers of selenium nutritional status in a healthy population. The study was conducted with 124 individuais of both genders, aged between 20 to 50 years, without Iiver disease, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The participants answered a questionnaire of personal information; the food consumption was assessed by three feeding records; the markers of selenium nutritional status were: concentration of erythrocytes, plasma and erythrocyte GPx activity; the polymorphisms have been identified by Real Time PCR. The averages of selenium intake were of 41.1 ug/d, for plasma selenium concentrations 54.13 ug/L, for erythrocyte selenium concentrations 56.14 ug/L and for erythrocites GPx activity 40.15 U/gHb. There was a positive moderately correlation between plasma selenium and erythrocyte selenium (r = 0.604). Separating the variables between genders, the average ofthe activity ofthe GPx was higher for women (F = 43.5 U/g Hb and M = 34.84 U/g Hb, p<0.05). Separating the averages of biochemical markers between different genotypes, there was only a significant difference in erythrocyte selenium and GPx activity in Arg5Pro (GPxl gene), and for plasma and erythrocyte selenium in Pro126Leu (GPx2 gene). For the other SNPs, statistical differences were only observed when means were separated by the gender, and the correlations were influenced by both genotypes and by gender.