Selenium supplementation lowers insulin resistance and markers of cardio-metabolic risk in patients with congestive heart failure: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Br J Nutr. 2018 Jul;120(1):33-40. doi: 10.1017/S0007114518001253.

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of Se supplementation on metabolic profiles in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). This randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed among fifty-three subjects with CHF, aged 45-85 years old. Subjects were randomly allocated into two groups to take either 200 µg/d of Se as Se yeast (n 26) or placebo (n 27) for 12 weeks. Metabolic profiles were assessed at baseline and at the end of trial. Compared with the placebo, Se supplementation led to significant reductions in serum insulin (-18·41 (sd 27·53) v. +13·73 (sd 23·63) pmol/l, P<0·001), homoeostatic model of assessment for insulin resistance (-1·01 (sd 1·61) v. +0·55 (sd 1·20), P<0·001) and a significant increase in quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) (+0·007 (sd 0·03) v. -0·01 (sd 0·01), P=0·007). In addition, Se supplementation significantly decreased LDL-cholesterol (-0·23 (sd 0·29) v. -0·04 (sd 0·28) mmol/l, P=0·03) and total-:HDL-cholesterol ratio (-0·47 (sd 0·31) v. -0·06 (sd 0·42), P<0·001), and significantly increased HDL-cholesterol levels (+0·18 (sd 0·19) v. +0·02 (sd 0·13) mmol/l, P=0·001) compared with the placebo. In addition, taking Se supplements was associated with a significant reduction in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (-1880·8 (sd 3437·5) v. +415·3 (sd 2116·5) ng/ml, P=0·01), and a significant elevation in plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (+30·9 (sd 118·0) v. -187·9 (sd 412·7) mmol/l, P=0·004) and total glutathione levels (+33·7 (sd 130·4) v. -39·2 (sd 132·8) µmol/l, P=0·003) compared with the placebo. When we applied Bonferroni correction for multiple outcome testing, QUICKI (P=0·11), LDL-cholesterol (P=0·51), hs-CRP (P=0·17), TAC (P=0·06) and GSH (P=0·05) became non-significant, and other metabolic profiles did not alter. Overall, our study supported that Se supplementation for 12 weeks to patients with CHF had beneficial effects on insulin metabolism and few markers of cardio-metabolic risk.

Keywords: CHF congestive heart failure; FPG fasting plasma glucose; HOMA-IR homoeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance; MDA malondialdehyde; NO nitric oxide; QUICKI quantitative insulin sensitivity check index; T2DM type 2 diabetes mellitus; TAC total antioxidant capacity; hs-CRP high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; Congestive heart failure; Metabolic status; Selenium; Supplementation.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anthropometry
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / metabolism
  • Diet
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Heart Failure / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Insulin / blood
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / metabolism
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk Factors
  • Selenium / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Insulin
  • Lipoproteins, LDL
  • Selenium