Selenium intake reduces serum C3, an early marker of metabolic syndrome manifestations, in healthy young adults.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the associations between serum complement factor 3 (C3) and several anthropometrical, biochemical and lifestyle features in healthy young adults, emphasizing on the putative effect of selenium intake on C3 concentrations.


METHODS
This study enrolled 100 healthy young adults aged 18-34 years. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements and lifestyle features were analyzed. Fasting blood samples were collected for the measurement of glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerols and C3 concentrations. Nail samples were collected for the analysis of selenium concentrations.


RESULTS
Values of BMI (P=0.034), sum of skinfold thicknesses (STs) (P=0.021), body fat mass (BFM) (P=0.023), percentage of overweight subjects (P=0.007), serum triacylglycerols (P=0.012) and nail selenium (P=0.001) were significantly different between subjects above and below the median of serum C3 concentrations. The following correlations with serum C3 were identified tricipital ST (P=0.033), sum of STs (P=0.012), BMI (P=0.008), BFM (P=0.018), waist-to-height ratio (P=0.016), serum glucose (P=0.045), serum triacylglycerols (P=0.001) and nail selenium (P=0.006). Circulating C3 showed a positive association with several adiposity markers such as BMI (P=0.001), waist circumference (P=0.006), waist-to-height ratio (P=0.002), BFM (P=0.025), as well as serum glucose (P=0.027) and triacylglycerols (P<0.001), whereas nail selenium was a statistically significant negative predictor of C3 concentrations (P=0.018).


CONCLUSIONS
C3 seems to be related with selenium status and several anthropometrical and biochemical measurements linked to metabolic syndrome in apparently healthy young adults. These findings suggest a possible role for selenium intake in the modulation of C3, whose assessment may be an early marker of metabolic syndrome manifestations.
Puchau
B
B
Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Physiology and Toxicology, University of Navarra, Pamplona 31008, Spain.
Zulet
M A
MA
González de Echávarri
A
A
Navarro-Blasco
I
I
Martínez
J A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009262:Nails / Q000737:chemistry; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis*; D012907:Smoking; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis*; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D003176:Complement C3; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D018977:Micronutrients; D014131:Trace Elements; D012643:Selenium