Higher selenium levels linked to lower new-onset HF and mortality

Netherlands: According to a new study, serum selenium was independently linked to numerous metabolic syndrome symptoms. Furthermore, elevated selenium levels were linked to lower mortality and new-onset heart failure (HF) among nonsmokers.

This study was conducted by Ali A. Al-Mubarak and the team and the findings were published in the European Journal of Heart Failure on 20th December 2021. 

The goal of this study was to determine the connection between blood selenium levels and the risk of death and new-onset heart failure in the general adult population. Selenium was evaluated in a Dutch cohort for this study, and a retrospective analysis of prospectively assessed data was undertaken. The primary endpoints were all-cause mortality and the incidence of new-onset heart failure, both independently and as a composite endpoint.

The key findings of this study are as follow:

1. Serum selenium concentrations were tested in 5973 participants, and the mean selenium concentration was 84.6 (19.5) g/L.

2. The average age was 53.6 (12.1) years, and 3103 (52%) of the participants were female. The average length of follow-up was 8.4 years.

3. Selenium levels were favorably related with female sex, higher total cholesterol, and glucose concentrations, and adversely associated with anemia, iron insufficiency, current smoking, rising C-reactive protein levels, and a higher BMI.

4. Univariate analysis on all individuals revealed no relationship between continuous selenium concentrations per 10 g/L rise and the composite outcome. However, there was a substantial relationship with smoking status.

5. Continuous selenium concentrations were independently related with lower risk of death, lower risk of new-onset HF, and lower risk of the composite endpoint in nonsmokers (N=4288).

6. There were no connections detected among participants who smoked.

In conclusion, the findings show that serum selenium has an independent relationship with numerous metabolic syndrome markers. In nonsmokers, high selenium concentrations were found to be independently associated with lower mortality and new-onset heart failure. To assess the potential benefit of supplementing selenium, well-powered interventional trials are required, particularly in nonsmokers.

Reference:

Al-Mubarak, A.A., Beverborg, N.G., Suthahar, N., Gansevoort, R.T., Bakker, S.J., Touw, D.J., de Boer, R.A., van der Meer, P. and Bomer, N. (2021), High selenium levels associate with reduced risk of mortality and new onset heart failure: data from PREVEND. Eur J Heart Fail. Accepted Author Manuscript. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.2405