Abstract
Background Adequate levels of selenium (Se) have protective effects against several chronic diseases, such as obesity. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Se supplementation in a selected group of patients with obesity. Methods This randomized prospective study included 37 overweight/obese individuals aged 18–65 years, who adopted a slightly hypocaloric diet for 3 months. An intervention group received 240 μg/day of L-selenomethionine for 3 months; a control group received a placebo. Clinical and biochemical parameters, body composition measurements, and the Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI) questionnaire were tested at the beginning and end of the treatment. Results A comparison of the two groups showed a significant change in body composition, involving a decrease in body fat mass, between the baseline and the end of the follow-up, in the intervention group. Unlike the placebo group, the group given Se had a significant increase in lean body and muscle mass and a significant decrease in leptin levels after 3 months on diet. At the end of the follow-up, the group given Se scored higher on the PGWBI than those who did not. Conclusion Se could reinforce the effects of diet for overweight and obesity. This work was registered in the ISRCTN registry with study ID ISRCTN6106073.
Highlights
IntroductionLeptin is an adiposity signal secreted by the adipocytes proportionally to the amount of body fat
Obesity is rapidly becoming one of the most worrying population health issues
The intervention group showed a significant reduction in body fat mass from the baseline to the end of the followup (p 0.0002). e results of ANOVA for repeated measures showed that the placebo group’s proportion of lean body mass did not change after 3 months on a hypocaloric diet, despite their significant body weight loss, whereas the proportion of lean body mass did change in the intervention group (p 0.01)
Summary
Leptin is an adiposity signal secreted by the adipocytes proportionally to the amount of body fat. In healthy individuals, it regulates the energy balance by increasing energy expenditure and reducing energy intake [2]. A comparison of the two groups showed a significant change in body composition, involving a decrease in body fat mass, between the baseline and the end of the follow-up, in the intervention group. The group given Se had a significant increase in lean body and muscle mass and a significant decrease in leptin levels after 3 months on diet. Se could reinforce the effects of diet for overweight and obesity. is work was registered in the ISRCTN registry with study ID ISRCTN6106073
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