Selenium, as selenite, prevents adipogenesis by modulating selenoproteins gene expression and oxidative stress-related genes.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the micronutrient selenium, as inorganic selenite, on adipocytes differentiation, and to identify underlying molecular mechanisms to advance the understanding of basic cellular mechanisms associated with adipogenesis.

Methods: The effect of sodium selenite (NaSeO) on cell viability (bromide 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-difeniltetrazol [MTT] assay) in preadipocytes, lipid accumulation (oil red O [ORO] assay) and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS, [NBT assay]) in mature adipocytes, as well as explore molecular mechanisms via gene expression analyses (real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction), before and after differentiation, was investigated using 3T3-L1 murine preadipocytes.

Results: Selenite (100, 200, and 400 nM) significantly decreased lipid accumulation during differentiation compared with untreated adipocytes (P < 0.