Serum Selenium and Diabetes in U.S. Adults

Abstract

OBJECTIVE -The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between serum selenium levels and the prevalence of diabetes among U.S. adults.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS -We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 8,876 adults Ն20 years of age who participated in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Diabetes was defined as the presence of a fasting plasma glucose Ն126 mg/dl, a self-report of a physician diagnosis of diabetes, or current use of insulin or oral hypoglycemic medication. Serum selenium was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry.RESULTS -Mean serum selenium levels in participants with and without diabetes were 126.5 and 125.7 ng/ml, respectively. Age-, sex-, race-, and BMI-adjusted mean selenium levels were 126.8 ng/ml in participants with diabetes and 124.7 ng/ml in participants without diabetes (adjusted difference 2.1 ng/ml [95% CI 0.4 -3.8]; P ϭ 0.02). The multivariable adjusted odds ratio for diabetes comparing the highest to the lowest quintile of serum selenium was 1.57 [1.16 -2.13]. However, the association between high serum selenium and the prevalence of diabetes was nonlinear, with no clear trend in quintiles 2-4.CONCLUSIONS -In a probability sample of the U.S. population, high serum selenium levels were positively associated with the prevalence of diabetes. Until findings from prospective studies and randomized controlled trials are available, selenium intake, including selenium supplementation, should not be recommended for primary or secondary diabetes prevention in populations with adequate selenium status such as the U.S. population. Diabetes Care 30:829 -834, 2007

Speciation of selenium dietary supplements; formation of S-(methylseleno)cysteine and other selenium compounds

“…Bleys et al [56] found high serum selenium levels to be positively associated with occurrence of diabetes and Stranges et al [57] reported long-term selenium supplementation (200 g day −1 as selenized yeast) increased the risk of type 2 diabetes. These observations have also raised concern in the nutritional selenium community.…”

Prevention of Alloxan-induced Diabetes by Se-Methylselenocysteine Pretreatment in Rats: The Effect on Antioxidant System in Pancreas

“…Some observational epidemiologic studies have reported a protective association of dietary or plasma Se against diabetic complications (11). Other researchers, on the other hand, have shown that high serum levels of Se are positively associated with the prevalence of diabetes (12). Therefore, the beneficial effects of taking Se supplements on top of an adequate dietary intake have come into question.…”

High Dietary Selenium Intake Alters Lipid Metabolism and Protein Synthesis in Liver and Muscle of Pigs

“…Likewise, 2 pig studies (4,5) showed the potential of high selenium intakes in causing hyperinsulinemia. Furthermore, several large human studies showed an alarming association between a high selenium intake and/or body selenium status and increased risk of hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, or type 2 diabetes (6)(7)(8). However, the molecular mechanism for the diabetogenic potential of a high selenium intake remains unclear.…”