title: Adverse systemic arterial function in patients with selenium deficiency.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Experimental studies have shown that selenium is involved in the synthesis of selenoproteins which might contribute to cardiovascular protection. However, the relationship between selenium deficiency and vascular function in clinical context remains unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate for any relationship between selenium deficiency and systemic arterial function in patients with high risk of vascular events.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  306 consecutive patients with high risk for cardiovascular events (coronary artery disease 35%, acute/ recurrent ischemic stroke 40%, diabetes mellitus 54%) followed up at internal medicine outpatient clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Non-invasive brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (PWV) was determined using vascular profiling system (VP-2000). Long-term intake of selenium was determined by a validated food frequency questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean daily selenium intake was 59.5 ± 52.1 mcg/day, and mean PWV was 1782.4 ± 418.4 cm/s. Patients with selenium intake <10th percentile had significantly higher PWV as compared to patients with intake ≥ 10th percentile (1968.2 ± 648.9 cm/s versus 1762.2 ± 381.6 cm/s, P=0.010). 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 PWV by +363.4 cm/s [95% CI: 68.1 to 658.6, P=0.016, relative increase 21%].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Selenium deficiency is associated with adverse arterial function in patients with high risk for vascular events.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Y-H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: C-W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Siu
authors.forename: K-H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yiu
authors.forename: H-T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: S-W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: C-P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: H-F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Tse
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D015930:Diet Records; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000172:deficiency*; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D012643:Selenium