Selenium and Diabetes Mellitus: Significance of Selenium Deficiency for the Presentation and Clinical Course of type 2 Diabetes
Issue: 4/2017
Author: Gorcheva, Dеssislava I., Losanov, Boyan St.
Clinic of Internal Diseases, Department of Endocrinology, Adgibadem City Clinic, “Tokuda Hospital Sofia”
Abstract:
Selenium (Se) is a microelement of fundamental importance to human health as a component of various selenoproteins involved in the essential physiological processes of growth, development, immune defence and endocrine functions. Selenium deficiency is related to an increased risk of malignancy and cardiovascular diseases, male infertility, endocrine and neurological diseases. The positive effects of Se on the antioxidant selenoproteins determines its cytoprotective properties. The discovery that it acts as an insulin mimetic provoked a number of studies on the significance of selenium deficiency in the development and progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
One of the most important questions is whether substitution with Se would be able to prevent the occurrence of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes as well as related complications. This implies a thorough study of the physiology and pathophysiology of antioxidant trace elements, such as selenium, among those at high risk of these diseases.
This review presents the current information on the relationship between plasma selenium concentration and diabetes mellitus based on the conducted research results.
Key words: Selenium, selenoproteins, metabolic diseases, diabetes mellitus, Selenium deficiency
