The Effect of Selenium Supplementation on Glucose Homeostasis and the Expression of Genes Related to Glucose Metabolism

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of selenium supplementation on the expression of genes associated with glucose metabolism in humans, in order to explain the unclear relationship between selenium and the risk of diabetes. For gene expression analysis we used archival samples of cDNA from 76 non-diabetic subjects supplemented with selenium in the previous study. The supplementation period was six weeks and the daily dose of selenium was 200 µg (as selenium yeast). Blood for mRNA isolation was collected at four time points: before supplementation, after two and four weeks of supplementation, and after four weeks of washout. The analysis included 15 genes encoding selected proteins involved in insulin signaling and glucose metabolism. In addition, HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose were measured at three and four time points, respectively. Selenium supplementation was associated with a significantly decreased level of HbA1c but not fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and significant down-regulation of seven genes: INSR, ADIPOR1, LDHA, PDHA, PDHB, MYC, and HIF1AN. These results suggest that selenium may affect glycemic control at different levels of regulation, linked to insulin signaling, glycolysis, and pyruvate metabolism. Further research is needed to investigate mechanisms of such transcriptional regulation and its potential implication in direct metabolic effects.

Selenium nanoparticles and metformin ameliorate streptozotocin-instigated brain oxidative-inflammatory stress and neurobehavioral alterations in rats

“…In another study elsewhere, Wang et al (2014) demonstrated that high doses of selenium (200 mg/kg) exacerbated hyperglycemia by promoting the expression of carboxykinase phosphoenolpyruvate and glucose 6-phosphatase enzymes involved in gluconeogenesis. The study by Jablonska et al (2016) demonstrated that low doses of selenium improve homeostasis of glucose and the expression of genes related to glucose metabolism at different levels of regulation, linked to insulin signaling, glycolysis, and pyruvate metabolism. NFBG levels are a vital parameter in comprehending the severity of type 2 diabetes (Group 1998).…”

The Beneficiary Role of Selenium in Type II Diabetes: A Longitudinal Study

“…Moreover, a study in Poland which was conducted in 2013 showed that Se supplements improved HBA1C levels but not fasting glucose levels [20]. However, a study conducted in Taiwan examined elderly individuals and found out that higher Se levels had a correlation with higher fasting glucose levels and with higher blood total cholesterol and triglyceride levels [21].…”

Dietary supplementation of selenium yeast enhances the antioxidant capacity and immune response of juvenile Eriocheir Sinensis under nitrite stress

“…In another study, dietary selenium can increase total triglyceride, total cholesterol and nonesterified fatty acids in the liver and adipose tissues and the high-selenium diet can also alter protein metabolism and elevate total protein concentrations in both liver and muscle of pigs [75]. Selenium can affect glycemic control through insulin signaling, glycolytic pathway and pyruvate metabolism in humans [76]. In aquatic animals, dietary selenium can effectively improve flesh quality of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) through inhibition of protein degradation [77].…”