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.