Relationship between Serum Selenium Level and Self-Reported History of Kidney Stone

Abstract

A relationship may exist between selenium and kidney calculi, but there is a lack of research in this field at present. Our study explored the relationship between the serum selenium level and a medical history of adult kidney calculi. We utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2011 and 2016. Participants self-reported their history of kidney stones, while serum selenium levels were measured using inductively coupled plasma dynamic reaction cell mass spectrometry. Our findings indicate a negative correlation between serum selenium levels and the risk of kidney stone history. In the multiple-adjusted model, the lowest serum selenium level group had a higher risk than the other groups. The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of ever having kidney stones for the highest serum selenium level group was 0.54 (0.33–0.88). In the results of stratified analysis, this relationship was still significant in the groups of women and those 40–59 years. We also found that as a nonlinear dose–response relationship between serum selenium levels and the history of kidney stones disease. In our research, we found that people with higher serum selenium levels had a lower risk of having a history of kidney stones. We concluded that selenium may have a protective effect on kidney stones. In the future, more population studies are needed to explore the relationship between selenium and kidney stones.

Association between composite dietary antioxidant index and kidney stone prevalence in adults: data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2007–2018)

“…Selenium, an essential trace element for the human body, enhances antioxidative capacity, scavenges free radicals, reduces oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species to the kidneys, and inhibits oxalate synthesis ( 42 ). A cross-sectional study utilizing NHANES data discovered a negative correlation between serum selenium levels and the risk of kidney stones ( 43 ). Another study demonstrated an inverse relationship between dietary selenium intake and kidney stone risk, particularly among young men (<50 years) and overweight or obese individuals (BMI ≥ 25.0) ( 44 ).…”

“…Previous studies have demonstrated an inverse association between serum selenium levels and the risk of kidney stone history in the general population. Nevertheless, after conducting age-stratified analysis, only higher serum selenium levels remained significantly negatively associated with kidney stone risk in individuals aged 40–59 years; no significant benefit was observed for those over 60 years old ( 43 ). This is consistent with the results of our study.…”

“…Selenium, an essential trace element for the human body, enhances antioxidative capacity, scavenges free radicals, reduces oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species to the kidneys, and inhibits oxalate synthesis (42). A cross-sectional study utilizing NHANES data discovered a negative correlation between serum selenium levels and the risk of kidney stones (43). Another study demonstrated an inverse relationship between dietary selenium intake and kidney stone risk, particularly Analyses were adjusted for covariates age (continuous), sex (male or female), race (Mexican American, Other Hispanic, Non-Hispanic White, Non-Hispanic Black or Other), education level (below high school, high school, or above high school), family income-to-poverty ratio (≤1.0, 1.1-3.0, or > 3.0), smoking status (never smoker, former smoker, or current smoker), drinking status (nondrinker, low-to-moderate drinker, or heavy drinker), BMI (<25.0, 25.0-29.9, or > 29.9), energy intake levels (in quartiles), physical activity (inactive, insufficiently active, or active), serum calcium (continuous), eGFR (continuous), hypertension (yes or no), diabetes (yes or no), and supplement use (yes or no) when they were not the strata variables.…”

Association between oxidative balance score and kidney stone in United States adults: analysis from NHANES 2007-2018

“…These findings suggest that the impact of OBS on kidney stone risk may vary across different population subgroups, possibly due to differences in genetic susceptibility, dietary habits, or other lifestyle factors. A review (Wang et al, 2023) examined health disparities in kidney stone disease concerning race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and place of residence, and found that white males had the highest risk of Frontiers in Physiology frontiersin.org kidney stones. A study based on the NHANES database (Feng et al, 2021) found that males, non-Hispanic white people, and obese individuals had a higher prevalence of kidney stones, and the prevalence in females showed a catching-up trend.…”