Dietary selenium intake is negatively associated with serum sialic acid and metabolic syndrome features in healthy young adults

Abstract 

Low-grade and chronic inflammation related to excessive body weight can increase the risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, whereas the intake of antioxidant nutrients appears to produce anti-inflammatory effects. The purpose of this observational study was to assess the potential relationships between serum SA levels, metabolic syndrome features, and dietary selenium intake to test the hypothesis that this antioxidant micronutrient may also have anti-inflammatory properties in healthy young adults. Forty-three healthy participants with a mean age of 18.0 ± 0.93 years and a mean body mass index of 22.2 ± 2.7 kg/m² were enrolled. Anthropometric, body composition, and blood pressure determinations were measured as well as serum lipid profile, glucose, insulin, and SA concentrations. Nutritional intake was estimated by a computerized, validated semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. The findings included a positive correlation between SA and triacylglycerol levels (r = 0.317, P = .038) and a trend to significance with the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance index (r = 0.297, P = .053). Moreover, subjects with higher dietary selenium intake showed statistically lower SA levels compared with subjects with lower dietary selenium intake (1.8 ± 0.4 vs 2.1 ± 0.4 mmol/L, P = .037), while dietary selenium negatively correlated with SA (r = −0.331, P = .030) and triacylglycerol levels (r = −0.312, P = .041). It can be concluded that a relationship of SA, an inflammatory marker, with metabolic syndrome features such as lipid profile impairment and insulin resistance has been envisaged. In addition, we report (apparently for the first time) a negative association between SA and selenium intake, a recognized antioxidant trace element, in healthy young subjects, reinforcing the view of selenium as a potential anti-inflammatory nutrient.

Abbreviations: BP, blood pressure, CVD, cardiovascular disease, HOMA-IR, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, SA, sialic acid

Keywords: Sialic acid, Selenium, Antioxidants, Diet, Metabolic syndrome, Humans