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 mu g/L) and BIOSTAT-CHF (89.1 mu g/L). Females with lower selenium levels had a higher BMI and increased prevalence of diabetes than females with higher selenium, in both PREVEND (p(interaction) < 0.001; p(interaction) = 0.040, resp.) and BIOSTAT-CHF (p(interaction) = 0.021; p(interaction) = 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 (p(interaction) = 0.021) and BIOSTAT-CHF (p(interaction) = 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.

Automated summary

The study found that serum selenium levels are associated with the incidence of heart failure and metabolic syndrome. There are notable differences between males and females in food intake and micronutrient metabolism, possibly explaining different health outcomes.