Work

Association of selenium with type 2 diabetes and obesity: A univariate and multivariate Mendelian randomization study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Selenium is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. However, whether the diabetogenic effect of selenium is mediated through increased body mass index (BMI) remains inconclusive. We conducted univariable and multivariable 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the impact of selenium on the risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity. And further, we also tested whether the effect of selenium on diabetes was mediated through BMI. The inverse variance-weighted method was used as the main analysis to assess the effect estimates. Genetically proxied blood selenium (odds ratio [OR] 1.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10-1.16, P < .001; per standard deviation elevation of selenium level) and toenail and blood selenium (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.06-1.19, P < .001) were both associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes. In multivariable MR analysis, the direct effect of selenium on the risk of type 2 diabetes decreased (blood selenium: OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.04-1.10, P < .001; toenail and blood selenium: OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.05-1.14, P < .001). The diabetogenic effect of selenium was mediated through increased BMI by 25% to 50%. This MR study suggests that the genetically proxied selenium is associated with increased risk of diabetes and obesity. And the diabetogenic effect of selenium is partially mediated through increased BMI.

Source: Medicine

DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000045338

Authors: Lihui Cheng, Zheng Zeng, Hui Quan

Institution: Chengdu Medical College

Language: English

Topic: Selenium in Biological Systems

Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics

Field: Nursing

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,950