Selenium levels and artery disease
The amount of selenium in a person's blood could impact their risk of developing peripheral artery disease (PAD).
The amount of selenium in a person's blood could impact their risk of developing peripheral artery disease (PAD).
PAD occurs when arteries in the legs become narrowed or clogged with fatty deposits, reducing blood flow to the legs, leading to leg cramps and walking difficulty. PAD is an important marker of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) throughout the body.
Pervious studies have shown some evidence that selenium levels were related to
heart disease risk, but it was questionable whether consuming more selenium would be beneficial among the people who consume more than enough of the nutrient. Therefore, researchers from America studied 2062 men and women age 40 years and older to find out the association between serum selenium and PAD. The blood levels of selenium and ankle-brachial blood pressure index (a widely used test for PAD) were compared in all the subjects.
It was found that the likelihood of having PAD fell as people's blood levels of selenium increased, but that PAD risk then climbed slightly for people with the highest selenium levels. When the study participants were divided into 4 groups based on selenium levels, the researchers observed that those with the second-lowest levels were 25 percent less likely to have PAD than those with the lowest levels. For people in the second-highest quartile, PAD risk was 42 percent lower than for those with the least selenium. Those with the highest levels of selenium had a 33 percent lower risk of PAD than those with the lowest levels.
Using a different analytical technique, the researchers found that the risk of PAD declined as selenium levels rose up to 150-160 ng/mL, and then began to increase in people with higher selenium levels.
The findings showed a U-shaped relationship between selenium levels and PAD risk, though the relationship wasn't statistically significant. Further investigation is required to identify the ideal selenium levels for reducing the risk of heart disease and other types of chronic illness in populations with different selenium intakes.
American Journal of Epidemiology
April 2009
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