Researchers at the University of Montpellier, France, established that high plasma
selenium concentrates in foods like nuts could slash dysglycemia incidence--pre-diabetic state associated with insulin resistance.
Lead researcher, Tasnime Akbaraly, University of Montpellier said, “Our results showed that for elderly males, having (blood) selenium concentrations in the top third of the population was significantly associated with a lower risk of developing dysglycemia over the following nine years.”
1162 people studied
The research team studied 1,162 healthy French men and women, aged 59 to 71 for nine years.
The subjects’ plasma selenium concentrations and blood sugar levels were taken into consideration.
After analyzing the results, researchers found that the dietary supplement, also taken in the form of pills, was more effective with men than women.
It was revealed that men who had high levels of selenium in the blood were half as likely to develop dysglycemia in contrast to those with low levels of selenium.
The researchers also found that during the study, 127 new dysglycemia cases developed, out of which 70 were men and 57 women.
Hence, it was established that elderly males with plasma selenium concentrations had a significantly lower risk of falling prey to the pre-diabetic condition.
“The reason we observed a protective effect of selenium in men but not in women is not completely clear, but might be attributed to women being healthier at baseline, having better antioxidant status in general and possible differences in how men and women process selenium,” said Akbaraly.
Intake of selenium
Selenium, an essential micronutrient, is known to regulate the insulin levels in the body.
It is used by the body in selenoproteins--antioxidant enzymes that prevent cell damage, monitor thyroid functioning and also play a role in enhancing immune system functioning.
According to the Dietary Reference Intakes guidelines provided by the Institute of Medicine, adults over 19 years of age should aim for 55 micrograms selenium per day, contrary to pregnant and lactating women who should consume less of selenium.
Selenium can be obtained from plant foods and nuts especially Brazil nuts which have extremely high content of selenium, containing 544 micrograms per serving. Other sources are grains--wheat and rice and meats from grain-eating animals.
The details of the study appear in the journal Nutrition and Metabolism.
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