Selenium deficiency is associated with adverse vascular function in patients with high risk for vascular events

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Experimental studies have shown that selenium is involved in the synthesis of selenoproteins relevant to the protection against cardiovascular disease. However, the relationship between selenium deficiency and vascular function in clinical context remains unknown. METHODS: We studied 306 consecutive patients with high risk for vascular events (coronary artery disease 35%, acute/ recurrent ischemic stroke 40%, diabetes 58%). Non-invasive brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was measured using vascular profiling system (VP-2000). Longterm intake of selenium was determined by a validated food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: Mean daily selenium intake was 59.4 +/- 52.1 mcg/day. Mean baPWV was 1782.4 +/- 418.4 m/s indicating increased arterial stiffness overall. Patients with selenium intake <10th percentile had significantly higher baPWV as compared to patients with intake ? 10th percentile (1994.4 +/- 662.6 m/s versus 1761.0 +/- 380.8 m/s, P=0.005). After adjusting for potential confounders including age, gender, history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, smoking status, use of cardiovascular medications, waist-hip ratio, education/ financial status, physical activity, calorie intake and intake of antioxidant vitamins, deficient selenium intake <10th percentile remained independently predictive of increased baPWV by 768.5 m/s [95% CI: 1345.0-192.0 m/s, P=0.010]. CONCLUSION: Selenium deficiency is associated with worsening arterial stiffness in patients with high risk for vascular events.