Serum Selenium Concentrations Research Articles

Higher serum selenium concentration is associated with lower risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among individuals with chronic kidney disease: A population-based cohort study of NHANES.

Selenium is an essential nutrient and trace element required for human health and plays an important role in antioxidative and anti-inflammatory processes. However, the long-term impact of selenium levels on the health of patients with chronic kidney disease remains unclear. Participants in this study were 3,063 CKD adults from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 1999-2000, 2003-2004, and 2011-2018). The mortality status and the cause of death of the study participants were obtained from the National Death Index records. For all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, the models employed to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CI were Cox proportional hazard models and competing risk models, respectively. During the follow-up period, 884 deaths occurred, including 336 heart-disease-associated deaths. The median (IQR) concentration of serum selenium was 181.7 (156.1, 201.5) μg/L. After full adjustment, serum selenium levels were associated with a decreased risk of mortality in patients with CKD, including all-cause and CVD mortality (P < 0.001). The multivariate-adjusted HRs (95%CI) were 0.684 (0.549-0.852) for all-cause mortality (P trend < 0.001) and 0.513 (0.356-0.739) for CVD mortality (P trend < 0.001) when selenium concentrations were compared according to the extreme quartiles. Selenium levels are inversely associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality and CVD mortality. Similar results were observed in subgroup and sensitivity analyses. Higher serum selenium concentration was independently associated with a decreased risk of all-cause and CVD mortality in patients with CKD.

Effect of a 60-day organic selenium-supplemented diet on the decrease of somatic cell counts in goat milk.

Selenium is an important element in nutrition, showing great potential in the udder health of dairy goats and in the control of subclinical mastitis. However, there are few studies that evaluated the influence of selenium supplementation on subclinical mastitis in goats. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of subclinical mastitis in dairy goats supplemented with organic selenium (Se yeast) in a semi-arid region. Sixteen Saanen × Toggenburg crossbred lactating goats were allocated randomly into two treatments: with and without addition of organic selenium (Se) to the concentrate. Milk samples were collected every 20days from each udder half to determine the somatic cell count (SSC), chloride content, pH, electrical conductivity, microbiological isolation, composition, and selenium contents. The highest serum selenium concentrations in the blood of these goats occurred at 42days of supplementation (P < 0.001). Goats which received organic selenium supplementation had higher serum selenium concentrations (P < 0.05). The milk composition variables did not differ (P > 0.05) between the tested treatments, teats, and collections. After 60days of supplementation, a difference was observed (P < 0.05) between treatments for SSC, chloride content, and pH. Addition of organic selenium to the diet of dairy goats after 60days of supplementation was promising in reducing the somatic cell count, consequently improving milk quality.

Antioxidant system of the body of young Ukrainian beef cattle under the action of microelements

Active forms of oxygen are formed in the course of the organism's vital activity in biochemical reactions. These forms, when the pro/antioxidant balance is disturbed, trigger a cascade of lipid peroxidation, which can be the cause of the development of various pathological conditions. To prevent the negative influence of lipid peroxidation products in the body, a powerful antioxidant system is activated. This system consists of an enzymatic and a non-enzymatic link. An important aspect of the normal functioning of this system is the provision of the body with important trace elements. A number of minerals are included in the active center of antioxidant enzymes or have an effect on the reactions of non-enzymatic antioxidants. Research was conducted on fattening bulls of the Ukrainian meat breed. During the monitoring of microelements in feed, it was found that the vast majority of farm feed was deficient in copper, selenium and manganese and for this reason the animals consumed an insufficient amount of these minerals. These data were confirmed by the low content of these trace elements in blood serum. The addition of inorganic salts of microelements to the basic diet led to an increase in the concentration of copper, manganese and selenium in the blood serum by 20.5%, 37.3% and 23.9%. The study of the content of lipid peroxidation products showed that during the 30 days of the experiment, the level of lipid hydroperoxide increased by 25.5%, diene conjugates by 22.8%, and malonic dialdehyde by 22.0%. This indicates that against the background of increased age-related metabolism in the body of young animals, the oxidation-reduction reactions that are a predictor of the start of peroxidation processes increase. It was also noted that with a deficiency of certain trace elements, the activity of both the enzymatic and non-enzymatic links of the antioxidant system was reduced. Thus, in 30 days, the level of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase decreased by 9.4%, 15.3%, and 13.0%, respectively. During this time, the content of tocopherol and ceruloplasmin decreased by 16.8% and 9.8%. Additives also had a positive effect on the activity of the antioxidant system by increasing its components. Additives of trace elements had different effects on the activity of antioxidant enzymes. The greatest effect on the level of catalase and superoxide dismutase was observed when copper salts were added, when the increase of these enzymes was noted by 1.11 and 1.23 times, respectively. Accordingly, the level of glutathione peroxidase was the highest in animals that received additional selenium – 1.21 times. The addition of copper also had the greatest biological effect on the important non-enzymatic component of antioxidant protection – ceruloplasmin. Its level increased by 1.24 times under the action of copper sulfate. The level of tocopherol was higher under the action of manganese, when its concentration was 1.11 times higher than the control. Against this background, there was a decrease in the products of lipid peroxidation: lipid hydroperoxides – 1.19 times under the action of selenium; diene conjugates – by 1.22 times and malonіс dialdehyde – by 1.11 times under the influence of copper and manganese compounds, respectively.

Maternal Serum Concentrations of Selenium, Copper and Zinc during Pregnancy are associated with Risk of Spontaneous Preterm Birth: A case-control study from Malawi

Maternal Serum Concentrations of Selenium, Copper and Zinc during Pregnancy are associated with Risk of Spontaneous Preterm Birth: A case-control study from Malawi

An Assessment of Serum Selenium Concentration in Women with Ovarian Cancer.

Available studies on the effect of serum selenium levels on the risk of malignancies show some conflicting results. In this study, we investigated the correlation between serum selenium levels and ovarian cancer occurrence. 314 women (157 diseased patients and 157 healthy ones) matched in terms of age and BMI were included in the study. The measurements of selenium in the collected blood samples were performed using an ICP mass spectrometer. Univariable and multivariable analyzes were performed to determine the relationship between the factors under the study and the occurrence of ovarian cancer. The mean concentration of selenium was lower among diseased ones than among controls (53.31 μg/L vs. 78.99 μg/L). A decrease in selenium concentration was noticed with the advancement of ovarian cancer. In univariable and multivariable analyzes, a clear relationship between low selenium concentration and the occurrence of ovarian cancer was found (35.3 (95% CI: 11.2-111; p < 0.001) and 45.8 (95% CI: 12.8-164; p < 0.001)). The studied patients with ovarian cancer are characterized by statistically significant lower serum selenium levels than patients from the control group. Among the study group, a decrease in selenium concentration was observed with an increase in the FIGO stage. The determination of the role of selenium as a prophylactic factor in ovarian cancer requires further prospective studies.

Selenium exposure and urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine: Major effects of chemical species and sex

Selenium is an element present in trace amounts and different chemical forms. It may exert both beneficial and adverse effects on cellular redox status and on the generation of reactive oxygen species. 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) is an oxidized derivative of deoxyguanosine, and a sensitive biomarker of oxidative stress and genotoxicity.The present study assessed the extent to which selenium status was associated with urinary 8-oxodG concentrations in a Northern Italian population.We recruited healthy, non-smoking blood donors living in the Reggio Emilia province during 2017–2019. We measured urinary 8-oxodG concentrations and used restricted cubic spline regression analyses to investigate the association between selenium status (estimated using food frequency questionnaires, urinary concentrations, and serum concentrations of selenium and selenium species) and 8-oxodG/g creatinine.Among 137 participants aged 30–60 years, median urinary selenium and 8-oxodG concentrations were 22.02 μg/L and 3.21 μg/g creatinine, respectively. Serum samples and selenium speciation analyses were available for 104 participants. Median total serum selenium levels and dietary intake were 116.5 μg/L and 78.7 μg/day, respectively. In spline regression analysis, there was little association between dietary, serum, or urinary selenium with 8-oxodG concentrations. In sex-specific analyses, urinary selenium showed a positive association with the endpoint among males. For single selenium species, we observed positive associations with urinary 8-oxodG for serum organic selenium species, and negative associations for inorganic selenium forms. In the most adjusted analysis, urinary 8-oxodG concentrations showed a strong positive association with selenomethione-bound selenium (Se-Met) and a negative association with inorganic tetravalent selenium, selenite. In sex-specific analyses, these associations were considerably stronger in males than in females.Overall, study findings indicate that selenium species exhibited very different patterns of associations with the biomarker of oxidative stress, and that these associations also depended on sex. Background exposure to Se-Met appears to be strongly and positively associated with oxidative stress.

Sexual dimorphism in selenium deficiency is associated with metabolic syndrome and prevalence of heart disease

BackgroundSerum selenium levels have been associated with the incidence of heart failure (HF) and signs of the metabolic syndrome. In addition, notable differences have been reported between males and females in food intake and micronutrient metabolism, possibly explaining different health outcomes.ObjectiveOur objective was to elucidate sex-specific, cross-sectional phenotypic differences in the association of serum selenium concentrations with parameters of metabolic syndrome and HF.MethodsWe investigated data from individuals from a community-based cohort (PREVEND; N = 4288) and heart failure cohort (BIOSTAT-CHF; N = 1994). In both populations, cross-sectional analyses were performed for potential interaction (p < 0.1) between sex and serum selenium with overlapping signs and clinical parameters of the metabolic syndrome and HF.ResultsBaseline selenium levels of the total cohort were similar between PREVEND (85.7 μg/L) and BIOSTAT-CHF (89.1 μg/L). Females with lower selenium levels had a higher BMI and increased prevalence of diabetes than females with higher selenium, in both PREVEND (pinteraction < 0.001; pinteraction = 0.040, resp.) and BIOSTAT-CHF (pinteraction = 0.021; pinteraction = 0.024, resp.), while opposite associations were observed for males. Additionally, in females, but not in males, lower selenium was associated with a higher prevalence of myocardial infarction (MI) in PREVEND (pinteraction = 0.021) and BIOSTAT-CHF (pinteraction = 0.084).ConclusionLower selenium was associated with a higher BMI and increased prevalence of diabetes in females, opposite to males, and was also associated with more MI in females. Interventional studies are needed to validate this observation.

Update on copper and selenium in Canadian cow-calf herds: regional differences and estimation of serum reference values.

Trace mineral supplementation of beef cattle is essential for efficient reproduction and herd health. Understanding regional differences in cow trace mineral status could inform decisions about risks of deficiencies and supplementation management. Cow-calf surveillance projects provided three opportunities to evaluate the trace mineral status of Canadian beef cow herds. Blood samples were collected at pregnancy testing in 2014 from 102 cow-calf herds and in 2016 from 86 cow-calf herds in Western Canada. In 2019, blood samples were collected at pregnancy testing from cows in 163 cow-calf herds from Eastern and Western Canada. Serum samples were analyzed for copper, selenium, and molybdenum concentrations using a plasma mass spectrometer. The prevalence of copper deficient cows sampled from the Western provinces ranged from 24% to 43% across the three periods, and was 20% from Eastern Canada in 2019. The prevalence of selenium deficient cows ranged from 0.2% to 0.4% across the three projects in Western Canada, but was higher in Eastern Canada at 4.6% in 2019. High serum molybdenum was identified in 9.4% to 14% of cows across the three periods in Western Canada and in 15% of cows sampled in Eastern Canada in 2019. Serum copper, selenium, and molybdenum concentrations varied by cow age and month of sample collection. Serum selenium and molybdenum concentrations, but not copper, varied by soil type associated with the location of the farm. A subsample of samples from cows from Western Canadian herds provided body condition score (BCS) data, pregnancy status, and calf survival data and were used to estimate updated serum reference values for adequate concentrations. Age-specific values were required for selenium and molybdenum. Reference intervals (80%) were estimated from 2,406 pregnant beef cows from 99 herds with each cow having a BCS ≥ 2.5/5 and a live calf at 3 wk with no retained placenta: copper for all cows (0.379 to 0.717 ppm), selenium for cows <4 yr (0.052 to 0.152 ppm), and selenium for cows ≥4 yr (0.064 to 0.184 ppm). Upper 90% reference limits were also estimated for serum molybdenum for cows <4 yr (>0.104 ppm) and cows ≥4 yr (>0.110 ppm). The lower limits for the reference intervals for adequate copper and selenium are below those previously reported; nevertheless, they represent a large sample that was specifically applicable to extensively managed beef animals in western Canada.

Evaluation of selenium source on nursery pig growth performance, serum and tissue selenium concentrations, and serum antioxidant status.

A total of 3,888 pigs (337 × 1050, PIC, Hendersonville, TN; initially 6.0 ± 0.23 kg) were used in a 35-d study. At the time of placement, pens of pigs were weighed and allotted to one of three dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design with a blocking structure including sow farm origin, date of entry into the facility, and average pen body weight. A total of 144 pens were used with 72 double-sided 5-hole stainless steel fence line feeders, with one feeder serving as the experimental unit. For each feeder, 1 pen contained 27 gilts, and 1 pen contained 27 barrows. There were 24 replicates per dietary treatment. Diets were fed in three phases, and all contained 0.3 mg/kg added Se. A common phase 1 diet contained added Se from sodium selenite and was fed in pelleted form to all pigs from day 7 to approximately day 0. Three Se sources sodium selenite, Se yeast, and hydroxy-selenomethionine (OH-SeMet) were used to formulate three experimental diets in meal form for phase 2 (days 0 to 14) and phase 3 (days 14 to 35). During the pre-treatment period (days 7 to 0), there was a tendency (P = 0.097) of a difference in average daily feed intake between treatments, although no significant pairwise differences were observed (P > 0.05). There were no other differences in growth performance between treatments from days 7 to 0. Clinical disease attributed to Streptococcus suis was observed within the trial between days 0 and 14, and water-soluble antimicrobial therapy was administered to all treatment groups for 7 d. From days 0 to 35, pigs fed OH-SeMet tended to have decreased average daily gain (P < 0.10) and increased (P < 0.05) serum and tissue selenium concentration compared to other treatments. There was marginally significant evidence of a source × day interaction (P = 0.027) for total antioxidant capacity where the numerical increase over time was less for the OH-SeMet than sodium selenite or selenium yeast treatments. There was no difference (P > 0.05) in antioxidant status as measured by serum glutathione peroxidase or thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay between treatments. In summary, compared to sodium selenite and selenium yeast, OH-SeMet may have a greater bioavailability as indicated by increased serum and tissue selenium concentration; however, antioxidant status was similar between treatments and OH-SeMet tended to reduce growth performance compared with pigs fed sodium selenite.

Association between maternal selenium levels and pregnancy outcome among human immunodeficiency virus-positive and human immunodeficiency virus-negative pregnant women in a tertiary health-care center in Owerri, Nigeria: A comparative cross-sectional study.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection constitutes a major medical complication of pregnancy and is associated with adverse feto-maternal outcomes. However, the relationship between maternal serum selenium levels and pregnancy outcomes has been inconsistent. This study aimed to determine the relationship between maternal serum selenium status and pregnancy outcome in HIV-positive and HIV-negative women in a tertiary health facility. A. HIV-positive pregnant women had significantly lower mean serum selenium concentration compared with HIV-negative pregnant women (64.3 ± 19.6 μg/L vs. 100.1 ± 30.9 μg/L; P < 0.001). There was a statistically significant association between serum selenium concentration and birth weight among both HIV-positive and HIV-negative pregnant women (P < 0.001). Similarly, a statistically significant association was seen between serum selenium and maternal PCV in HIV-positive and HIV-negative pregnant women (P = 0.024 and P < 0.001, respectively). However, there was no association found between serum selenium and other pregnancy outcomes. HIV-positive pregnant women had a lower mean serum selenium level compared to HIV-negative pregnant women. There was a significant association between low maternal serum selenium level and maternal anemia, as well as low birth weight, especially in HIV-positive pregnant women.

Исследование динамики уровня некоторых микроэлементов у больных клещевым риккетсиозом в Хабаровском крае

The purpose — to study the dynamics of serum selenium and cadmium levels in patients with a moderate form of tick-borne rickettsiosis caused by R. heilongjiangensis, depending on the disease stage, with a view of identifying the relationship between the studied trace elements. Material and methods. The levels of cadmium and selenium were studied and analyzed in patients with a moderate form of tick-borne rickettsiosis caused by R. heilongjiangensis, without concomitant chronic diseases in the decompensation stage. Results. It was found that the average level of cadmium in the blood serum of patients at the height of the disease was statistically significantly increased by 1.5 times, which was combined with a significant decrease of 1.3 times in the level of selenium to critical values. During the convalescence period, the cadmium level significantly decreased, having no significant differences with the comparison group, while the selenium level increased reliably by the time of discharge relative to the height of the disease. Correlation analysis revealed a reliable negative relationship of intermediate strength between the selenium and cadmium content in blood serum. Conclusion. The data obtained, indicating the formation of critical cadmium redundancy against the background of selenium deficiency in patients with a moderate form at the height of tick-borne rickettsiosis caused by R. heilongjiangensis, testify to the conjugation of the processes of selenium and cadmium statuses. The imbalance of the studied trace elements is probably reflected in a decrease in the activity of antioxidant antiradical protection.

Serum Mineral Levels and Haematobiochemical Parameters in Buffalo Calves with Allotriophagy (Pica Syndrome)

Pica is defined as a depraved or abnormal appetite characterized by licking and eating non-nutritive substances. The aim of this study was to report changes in the serum mineral levels and haematobiochemical parameters of buffalo calves with pica. The study included 30 buffalo calves exhibiting pica behaviour, such as licking stall walls or eating wool and non-food items (pica group), and 6 buffalo calves without the signs of pica behaviour (control group). The age of both groups ranged between 1 and 6 months. In the pica group, the haematological analysis revealed a decrease in red blood cells (P &lt; 0.001) and red cell distribution width (P &lt; 0.05) as well as an increase in the mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (P &lt; 0.001), whereas the biochemical parameters were characterized by an increase in aspartate aminotransferase (P &lt; 0.01), alanine aminotransferase (P &lt; 0.001) and lactate dehydrogenase (P &lt; 0.05) levels and a decrease in creatinine and glucose (P &lt; 0.01) levels. Furthermore, the pica group showed a significant decrease in serum manganese, iron, zinc, selenium (P &lt; 0.001) and copper (P &lt; 0.01) concentrations. In conclusion, it was determined that deficiencies in the levels of serum iron, copper, zinc, manganese and selenium play an important role in the aetiology of pica in buffalo calves.

Serum copper, zinc and selenium levels in women with unexplained infertility in Ibadan Nigeria: A cross-sectional analytical study.

Infertility is a global public health issue affecting couples. Trace metals have been implicated in effective reproductive functions in males but less studied in females. To compare the serum levels of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se) and copper/zinc ratio in women with unexplained infertility and fertile women. This was a cross-sectional analytical study that compared 75 consenting women who had unexplained infertility with 74 fertile women that were controls. Both groups were seen within 1 year of delivery and were recruited from the family planning unit, at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. Data were obtained through a semi-structured questionnaire, after which 10 mL of venous blood was collected. Analysis of selected trace elements were done by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. IBM SPSS version 23 was utilized for data analysis and the levels of statistical significance was set at <0.05. The mean (± SD) serum concentrations of Cu (93.11 ± 16.55 μg/dL), Zn (72.04 ± 15.03 μg/dL) and Se (28.28 ± 8.33 μg/dL) amongst the women with unexplained infertility were lower when compared to the control group (all with P < 0.001). The serum Cu/Zn ratio was higher among the fertile women, though not statistically significant (P < 0.62). Age of <35 years was associated with normal serum levels of Cu (P < 0.01), while women with normal body mass index had low serum concentrations of Cu (P = 0.04), amongst the fertile group. Serum copper, zinc and selenium concentrations are significantly lower in women with unexplained infertility, therefore diets or supplements containing these trace elements may be helpful in their management.

Evaluation of serum mineral status in dermatological disorders of dogs

The study was undertaken to evaluate serum mineral status, specifically zinc, copper and selenium in dogs affected with dermatological disorders in comparison to normal healthy dogs. The study included 40 dogs of 2-5 years of age with skin diseases presented to University Veterinary Hospitals at Mannuthy and Kokkalai under the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, and ten apparently healthy dogs brought to the hospital for routine health check-up which served as control. Serum concentrations of the three minerals were compared not only between normal and dogs with skin diseases as a whole but also between individual skin diseases- six different skin diseases- with the control group. On comparing the dogs with skin ailments (n=40) and control group, the serum mineral levels analysed through Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) revealed that the concentration of zinc was significantly lower (p&lt;0.01) in the diseased group (0.53 ± 0.04 mg/L) of dogs (n=40) than the control group (1.11 ± 0.09 mg/L) and the serum copper concentration was also significantly reduced (p&lt;0.05) in diseased dogs (0.91 ± 0.08 mg/L) with respect to the control animals (1.23 ± 0.11 mg/L). The serum selenium concentration of diseased group of animals(n=40), however failed to show any significant difference from the control group of animals. The outcome of the study suggests a need for supplementation of zinc and copper in dogs with skin ailments like canine demodicosis that relapse even after prolonged therapy with acaricides.

Association of Serum Antioxidant Minerals and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Chinese Urban Residents.

Antioxidant minerals including zinc, copper and selenium play critical roles in the maintenance of the redox balance in the body. However, their influences on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are still inconclusive in Chinese populations. To elucidate the relationship between antioxidant minerals and T2DM, serum zinc, copper and selenium concentrations were measured in 1443 Chinese urban residents using a 1:2 matched case-control study. Conditional logistic regression models (CLR) were used to obtain the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were used to examine their dose-response associations. Serum zinc (OR = 0.52 [0.35, 0.77]) and copper concentrations (OR = 0.25 [0.17, 0.37]) were negatively associated with T2DM in a fully adjusted model. An L-shaped zinc-T2DM association (Poverall association = 0.003, and Pnonlinearity = 0.005) and a negative linear copper-T2DM association (Poverall association &lt; 0.0001, and Pnonlinearity = 0.395) were observed. No association was found between serum selenium and T2DM in fully adjusted CLR or RCS models. In addition, joint associations with T2DM were identified between serum zinc and copper and between serum selenium and copper. In conclusion, our study emphasizes the importance of an adequate intake of antioxidant minerals for T2DM prevention in the Chinese population.

Study of the effect of a seven -containing drug on the concentration of selenium in the organs and tissues of the lambs of the Romanov breed in the conditions of industrial complexes North-Western region

Purpose: to study the effects of a selenic -containing drug on the concentration of selenium in blood serum, organs and tissues of lambs of the Romanov breed.Materials and methods. In the course of the study, 120 novels of the Romanov breed and 80 lambs obtained from the data of disemeters were used. The formation of control and experimental groups was carried out taking into account the principle of pair analysis. In experiments on assessing the effect of the drug, clinically healthy animals were used on the body. During the study, four groups of lambs were formed at the age of 30 days. The mothers of the first group during the period of suyagnity received the drug “e-sel” at the rate of 1 ml per 50 kg of live weight; The lambs of the first experimental group introduced the drug “E-sel” at the rate of 0.2 ml per 10 kg of live weight according to the instructions. The second group was a control - a physiological solution was administered in the same quantity as the drug with experimental animals; Feeding was carried out by the main diet. The studies were carried out in the period before the chopping (4 months of age) was carried out. Blood fence was carried out from the jugular vein. The concentration of selenium in blood serum lambs was determined by fluorimetrically with 2.3-diaminonaftalin. After the chopping, the lambs were slaughtered. The concentration of selenium in the organs and tissues of the lamb was examined by atomic-adsorption spectrometry.Results. It was established that the concentration of selenium in the lambs of the first experimental group increased, starting from the 60s from the moment of birth. At the same time, in the lambs of the first experimental group, the concentration increased 2.84 times by the 60th knocks compared to control, 4.08 times compared to control by the 90s from the moment of birth and 8.5 times by 120 -It day from the moment of birth. The concentration of selenium in the kidneys, liver and muscles (the broadest back muscle) of the first experimental group significantly exceeded the values of control. The maximum concentration was noted in the kidneys. No reliable changes were noted between the 1st and 2nd experimental groups in the concentrations of selenium in the kidneys and liver. The concentration of selenium in the liver of the experimental group was 2.94 times higher in comparison with control. In the kidneys, the concentration of selenium was 2.26 times higher for the experimental group in comparison with control. It is noted that an increase in the concentration of selenium in the muscles exceeded control indicators of 4.59, respectively.

Serum Selenium and Incident Cardiovascular Disease in the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED) Trial: Nested Case-Control Study.

Selenium is an essential trace mineral with potential interest for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention owing to its antioxidant properties. Epidemiological data on selenium status and CVD remain inconsistent. The objective of this study was to ascertain whether low serum selenium (SSe) concentrations are related to an increased risk of a first CVD event in a population at high cardiovascular risk. We undertook a case-control study nested within the "PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea" (PREDIMED) trial. A total of 207 participants diagnosed with CVD (myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death) during the follow-up period (2003-2010) were matched by sex, age, and intervention group to 436 controls by incidence density sampling. Median time between serum sample collection and subsequent CVD event occurrence was 0.94 years. SSe levels were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis. Covariates were assessed through validated questionnaires, in-person interviews, and medical record reviews. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs). Among women, the mean SSe concentration was lower in cases than in controls (98.5 μg/L vs. 103.8 μg/L; p = 0.016). In controls, SSe levels were directly associated with percentage of total energy intake from proteins and fish intake (p for linear trend &lt; 0.001 and 0.049, respectively), whereas SSe concentrations were inversely associated with age, body mass index, and percentage of total energy intake from carbohydrates (p for linear trend &lt; 0.001, 0.008 and 0.016 respectively). In the total group, we observed an inverse dose-response gradient between SSe levels and risk of CVD in the fully-adjusted model (highest vs. lowest quartile: OR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.27-0.81; ptrend = 0.003). Among elderly individuals at high cardiovascular risk, high SSe concentrations within population reference values are associated with lower first CVD incidence.

Short-term Dietary Selenium Deficiency Induced Liver Fibrosis by Inhibiting the Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway in Rats.

The effects of short-term dietary selenium deficiency on the liver and protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway were evaluated. Fourteen growing rats were randomly divided into control and selenium deficiency groups and fed standard and selenium-deficient diets for 4weeks, respectively. The serum and liver selenium concentrations were measured to evaluate the construction of animal models with selenium deficiency. Liver tissues were analyzed by transmission electron microscope, hematoxylin-eosin staining, and Masson staining to observe the ultrastructural changes, pathological changes, and severity of liver fibrosis, respectively. Besides, immunohistochemical staining (IHC) was used to analyze the effects of selenium deficiency on the expression of key proteins in the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. The results showed that selenium concentrations in the serum and liver tissue were significantly lower in the selenium deficiency group than in the control group, and the selenium deficiency intervention could affect the morphology and structure of hepatocytes and mitochondria. Meanwhile, the liver tissue showed structural damage and fibrotic changes in the selenium deficiency group. The IHC results showed the positive staining rates of Akt, phosphorylation-modified protein kinase B (p-Akt), mTOR, and phosphorylation-modified mammalian target of the rapamycin (p-mTOR) in the liver of the selenium deficiency group which were significantly lower than that of the control group. In conclusion, short-term selenium deficiency dietary intervention could lead to liver fibrosis by inhibiting the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Micronutrient deficiencies and new-onset atrial fibrillation in a community-based cohort: data from PREVEND

Abstract Background Impaired nutritional status has been linked to cardiovascular diseases. Both selenium and iron deficiency have been associated with impaired exercise tolerance and worse prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF) as well as mitochondrial dysfunction in human cardiomyocytes. With exception of magnesium, little is known about the role of micronutrients in the development of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Purpose To elucidate the association of micronutrient deficiencies with new-onset AFib. Methods Selenium, magnesium and iron parameters were measured in a well-characterized Dutch prospective cohort study (N=5452). Selenium deficiency was defined as selenium &amp;lt;70 μg/L, iron deficiency as ferritin &amp;lt;30 μg/L, and magnesium deficiency as magnesium &amp;lt;0.85 mmol/L. New-onset AFib was the primary outcome. All cases with suspected AFib as determined by electronic screening based on 12-lead ECG were manually reviewed and validated by 2 independent cardiologists. Competing-risk regression analyses were performed with death as a competing risk. Additionally, we tested for interaction between selenium deficiency and smoking status on the outcome because of the known lower serum selenium concentrations in smokers in various cohorts. Results The mean age was 53.3 (12.0) years and 2843 (52.1%) of all participants were women. During a mean follow-up of 6.2 years, 136 (2.5%) participants developed new-onset AFib. Of the participants who developed AFib, 25.7% had selenium deficiency, 5.1% had iron deficiency, and 75% had magnesium deficiency, compared to 21.1%, 14.9% and 65.8% of those who did not develop AFib, respectively. Smoking status significantly interacted with selenium deficiency on outcome (p=0.075). After multivariable adjustment for components of the CHARGE-AF model, selenium deficiency was associated with new-onset AFib in non-smokers (HR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.08 to 2.66, p=0.022), but not in smokers (HR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.27 to 1.90, p=0.494). There was no significant association between the new-onset AFib and magnesium deficiency (HR: 1.40, 95% CI: 0.93 to 2.12, p=0.108) or iron deficiency (HR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.23–1.49, P=0.266). Participants with two or more deficiencies had higher risk to develop AFib compared to those without deficiencies (HR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.00 to 3.06, p=0.050). Conclusion In a community-based cohort, selenium deficiency was associated with new-onset AFib in non-smoking participants. Interventional studies that investigate the effects of optimizing micronutrients status in a population at risk are needed to assess causality, especially in those with selenium deficiency. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Other. Main funding source(s): ENW-KLEIN grantthe Junior Scientific Masterclass-MD/PhD program of the UMCG

Assessment of Serum Zinc and Selenium Levels in Children with COVID-19

Abstract Objective Zinc and selenium levels are being investigated with increasing frequency in adult patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, levels of zinc and selenium in children with COVID-19 have not been adequately studied to date. Methods This prospective, observational study was conducted on 146 pediatric patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and 49 healthy controls between 2020 and 2021. Normal serum zinc reference values were 0.60 to 1.20 µg/mL for children 0 to 10 years old and 0.66 to 1.10 µg/mL for children ≥11 years old. The normal range for serum selenium concentration was considered between 70 and 150 µg/L. Deficiencies were defined for values below the reference range. Results Zinc and selenium levels were significantly lower in the COVID-19 (+) group compared with the controls (zinc: 0.7 ± 0.2 vs 0.9 ± 0.2 µg/mL, p &lt; 0.001; selenium: 57.1 ± 9.1 vs 66.5 ± 11.4 µg/L, p &lt; 0.01, respectively). Also, zinc and selenium levels were found to be statistically significantly lower in the hospitalized group compared with the outpatient group (zinc: 0.6 ± 0.2 vs 0.8 ± 0.2 µg/mL, p &lt; 0.001; selenium: 52.1 ± 9.6 vs 58.8 ± 8.3 µg/L, p &lt; 0.001). In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, selenium levels with a cutoff value of 55.50 µg/L, with 75% sensitivity and 70% specificity, and zinc levels with a cutoff value of 0.7 µg/mL, with 56% sensitivity and 53% specificity, predicted hospitalization. Conclusion Our data showed that serum zinc and selenium levels were significantly lower in patients with COVID-19 compared with healthy control group. Also, zinc and selenium levels were found to be lower in the hospitalized group compared with the outpatient COVID-19 group.