[PHNUTR-L] High Serum Selenium Levels Linked to Increased Diabetes Risk

[Kathrynne Holden]

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High Serum Selenium Levels Linked to Increased Diabetes Risk
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http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/555470?sssdmh=dm1.264436&src=nldne


NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Apr 19 - Contrary to expectation, high serum 
selenium levels are positively associated with the prevalence of 
diabetes, according to findings published in the April issue of Diabetes 
Care.

"Oxidative stress reduces insulin secretion and increases insulin 
resistance in some experimental models and thus play a causal role in 
the pathogenesis of diabetes," write Dr. Joachim Bleys and colleagues 
from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 
Baltimore, Maryland. "Because of its antioxidant properties, selenium 
might thus prevent the development of diabetes."

To test their hypothesis that selenium levels would be inversely 
associated with diabetes prevalence, the researchers conducted a 
cross-sectional analysis of data from 8876 subjects (at least 20 years 
of age) who participated in the Third National Health and Nutrition 
Examination Survey.

The team defined diabetes as a fasting plasma glucose of at least 126 
mg/dL, a self-report of a physician diagnosis of diabetes, or current 
use of insulin or oral hypoglycemic medication. Atomic absorption 
spectrometry was used to measure serum selenium.

The results ran counter to what was anticipated. After adjustment for 
age, sex, race, and body mass index, serum selenium levels were 126.8 
ng/mL and 124.7 ng/mL in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects, 
respectively (adjusted difference 2.1 ng/mL; p = 0.02).

The multivariate-adjusted odds ratio for diabetes for the highest versus 
the lowest quintile of serum selenium was 1.57.

The authors call for prospective studies with diabetes incidence as the 
outcome in order to establish a causal role of selenium on the risk of 
diabetes.

"Until the findings of these studies are available, selenium intake, 
including selenium supplementation, should not be recommended for 
diabetes prevention in populations with adequate selenium status," Dr. 
Bleys and colleagues advise. "Furthermore, diabetic patients should 
avoid selenium supplementation until randomized controlled trials show 
objective benefits on mortality or morbidity end points."

Diabetes Care 2007;30:829-834.
-- 
Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD < fivestar at nutritionucanlivewith.com >
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