Selenium May Ease Onset of Metabolic Syndrome
Lee Swanson Research Update
An increased intake of selenium may decrease risk factors for metabolic syndrome and inflammation, a new study from Spain suggests.
Researchers from the University of Navarra in Pamplona report that selenium status appears to be linked with serum complement factor 3 (C3), which has been reported to be a marker for increased risk of the metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome is a condition characterized by central obesity, hypertension and disturbed glucose and insulin metabolism. The syndrome has been linked to increased risks of both type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Writing in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the researchers state: “We report here for the first time an association between circulating C3 and nail selenium concentrations.”
One hundred healthy young adults with an average age of 20.7 years and an average BMI of 21.6 kg per m2 were recruited. Lifestyle features were analyzed and blood pressure measurements taken, while finger nail samples were taken to measure selenium concentrations. Using data from fasting blood samples, the researchers found that higher C3 levels had a positive association with several measures, including BMI, waist circumference, blood glucose levels and triacylglycerol levels. On the other hand, selenium levels measured from the finger nails were negatively associated with C3 concentrations, they said.
“C3 seems to be related with selenium status and several anthropometrical and biochemical measurements linked to metabolic syndrome in apparently healthy young adults,” wrote the authors. “These findings suggest a possible role for selenium intake in the modulation of C3, whose assessment may be an early marker of metabolic syndrome manifestations.”
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition Published online ahead of print.
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