The effects of selenium administration on carotid intima-media thickness and metabolic status in diabetic hemodialysis patients: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Intake of dietary antioxidants is inversely associated with reduced markers of atherosclerosis development such as carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT).

Objective: This study was designed to assess the effects of selenium supplementation on CIMT and metabolic profiles of in diabetic hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Materials And Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed on 60 diabetic HD patients. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive selenium supplements or placebo (starch). Individuals in the selenium group (n = 30) received 200 μg selenium per day in the placebo group (n = 30) received for 24 weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken at the study baseline and after 24 weeks of intervention.

Results: Following the administration of selenium supplements, was observed a significant reduction in serum insulin levels (P = 0.003), insulin resistance (P = 0.003), total cholesterol (P = 0.008), LDL-cholesterol (P < 0.001) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (P < 0.001), and a significant increase in insulin sensitivity (P < 0.001), HDL-cholesterol (P < 0.001) and total glutathione (GSH) (P < 0.001) compared with the placebo.

Conclusions: Selenium supplementation in diabetic HD patients had beneficial effects on markers of insulin metabolism, total-, LDL-, HDL-cholesterol, CRP and GSH levels. This trial was registered at www.irct.ir as http://www.irct.ir: IRCT20170513033941N47.