Examine publishes rigorous, unbiased analysis of the latest and most important nutrition and supplementation studies each month, available to all Examine Members. Click here to learn more or log in.
Study under review: The effect of selenium supplementation on coronary heart disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Introduction
Selenium isn’t a famous nutrient. There aren’t any major organizations advocating for increased selenium intake and more than 97% of adults in the U.S. meet the estimated average requirement. An essential nutrient, selenium’s main biological role has to do with a variety of proteins called selenoproteins[1], of which some are major antioxidant enzymes, some are involved in mitigating the inflammatory response[2], and some playing a role in thyroid hormone[3] metabolism, to name a few functions. Severe selenium deficiency plays a substantial role in Keshan disease[4], an often fatal cardiomyopathy characterized by an enlarged heart, cardiac arrhythmias, and congestive heart failure. Some research[5] points to the role of selenoproteins in protecting heart tissue from oxidative stress as a plausible reason for selenium’s role in preventing Keshan disease, among other functions.
Given these observations and the role that inflammation[6] and oxidative stress[7] play in cardiovascular diseases, it’s plausible that selenium could be involved in heart disease prevention and treatment. Some observational studies[8] have found inverse associations between selenium levels and coronary heart disease risk, although there are some contradictory reports. In particular, NHANES data suggests that serum selenium levels and cardiovascular mortality have a nonlinear relationship, in which cardiovascular mortality decreases as selenium status moves toward about 120 ng/mL and increases thereafter, which may explain some of the inconsistencies in other research.
To help better understand the role that selenium plays in cardiovascular disease and whether supplementation confers any benefits, the study under review was a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials assessing whether selenium supplementation affects the mortality rates of heart disease patients and several heart disease risk factors.
There’s reason to think that selenium could be relevant in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, and observational evidence suggests a role for it. The study under review is a new meta-analysis of controlled trials exploring whether the plausible correlation seen in previous research suggests a causal role for supplementation.
Who and what was studied?
What were the findings?
What does the study really tell us?
The big picture
Frequently asked questions
What should I know?
Other Articles in Issue #39 (January 2018)
-
Mini: Coffee Correlations
It can be hard to keep track of all of the health claims made for coffee. A 2017 umbrella review helps suss out what benefits and harms are associated with coffee intake.
-
Interview: Beth Skwarecki
In this interview, with Lifehacker health editor and writer Beth Skwarecki, we discuss the unique challenges of communicating the results of scientific studies to the general public, and more.
-
You may be sleeping, but your muscles don’t have to!
As men age, it becomes harder for them to maintain muscle mass. Can an overnight dose of protein help improve muscle protein synthesis in older men, even in the absence of exercise?
-
Caffeine tolerance kills its benefits
The evidence for caffeine habituation's effects on its ergogenic properties has been mixed. This trial adds to the evidence by going for longer and not relying on self-reported caffeine intake.
-
Do cranberries really help prevent urinary tract infections?
Cranberries have been long-suspected to help with UTIs. This meta-analysis looked at the evidence for it preventing noncomplicated UTI recurrence in otherwise healthy women.
-
Is research on beta-alanine still in beta?
Beta-alanine is thought to help decrease muscle fatigue through boosting intramuscular carnosine levels. This systematic review aimed to look at the state of the evidence for its efficacy.
-
Investigating sodium bicarbonate for better endurance performance
Bicarbonate supplementation has mostly been tested for high-intensity exercise. But does it help for lower-intensity aerobic performance?