Blood selenium levels and diabetic peripheral neuropathy closely related

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a long-term metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels. It is caused by insufficient insulin secretion by pancreatic β-cells and an inability of insulin-sensitive tissues to respond appropriately to insulin. In 2019, over 463 million people worldwide were reported to have T2DM.

Selenium is a trace mineral essential for life and acts physiologically through selenoproteins. It is suggested to interfere with cellular antioxidant capacity through enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase, and several studies have linked it to T2DM.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a common complication of type 2 diabetes. DPN is a type of nerve damage that most often affects the legs and feet. A comprehensive understanding of the causal factors for DPN is important for effective prevention and treatment, but there is no clarity on the precise clinical pathogenesis. The researchers from China aimed to investigate the correlation between blood selenium levels and DPN in patients with type 2 diabetes and analyze factors contributing to lesion development.

For this purpose, the researchers selected 51 patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy and 57 with type 2 diabetes between 2021 and 2022. Blood glucose, Se, and lipid levels were assessed. Electromyographic evoked potentials measured sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) and motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The study led to the following findings:

• DPN patients exhibited lower Se, SNCV, and MNCV compared to DM patients, with higher glucose and lipid levels.
• Logistic regression analysis identified age, fasting blood glucose, disease duration, and HbA1c as independent risk factors for DPN in type 2 diabetes, while Se emerged as an independent protective factor.

"The findings showed that blood selenium levels and diabetic peripheral neuropathy are closely related, with Se emerging as a significant factor in DPN occurrence among T2DM patients," the researchers concluded.

Reference:

Xu, Hui, et al. "Correlating Blood Selenium Levels in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus With Peripheral Neuropathy and Factors Contributing to Associated Lesion Development." Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 2023.