Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026
07:57
Assessing Whole-Body Lipid-Handling Capacity in Mice
Published on: November 24, 2020
Serum selenium and serum lipids in US adults
Joachim Bleys1, Ana Navas-Acien, Saverio Stranges
1Departments of Epidemiology and Medicine, the Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, Madrid, Spain.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|August 12, 2008
Summary
Higher selenium levels in US adults were linked to increased total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. Further research is needed to understand these associations and their impact on cardiometabolic health.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Cardiovascular Health
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Selenium is an essential micronutrient known for antioxidant properties.
- It may influence cardiometabolic risk factors like glucose and lipid levels.
- The impact of selenium on lipid profiles in selenium-replete populations, such as the US, remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between serum selenium concentrations and serum lipid profiles in a representative sample of US adults.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of 5452 US adults (aged ≥20 years) from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
- Serum selenium levels were quantified using atomic absorption spectrometry.
Main Results:
- Elevated serum selenium concentrations were associated with significantly higher levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triacylglycerols, apolipoprotein B (apo B), and apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I).
- Specifically, the highest quartile of serum selenium showed increased concentrations for all measured lipids and apolipoproteins compared to the lowest quartile.
- A 10% increase in triacylglycerols was observed in the highest selenium quartile.
Conclusions:
- In the US, a selenium-replete population, higher serum selenium concentrations are associated with elevated serum lipids and apolipoproteins.
- Experimental studies are required to establish causality and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of these observed associations.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System III: Serum Lipid Profile
Understanding serum lipids is crucial for maintaining cardiovascular health and preventing heart disease and stroke.
Serum lipids are fats and fatty substances in the blood and are crucial for various bodily functions, including energy storage, cellular structure, and hormone production. Serum lipids consist of cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids.
Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like substance found in all body cells. It is crucial for producing hormones, vitamin D, and substances that aid...
Serum lipids are fats and fatty substances in the blood and are crucial for various bodily functions, including energy storage, cellular structure, and hormone production. Serum lipids consist of cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids.
Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like substance found in all body cells. It is crucial for producing hormones, vitamin D, and substances that aid...
01:18Lipids: Dietary Sources and Requirements
Lipids are an essential component of a balanced human diet. Triglycerides, which make up the majority of dietary lipids, are found in both saturated fats—commonly present in meat, dairy products, and certain tropical plants like coconut, and hydrogenated oils such as margarine and baking shortenings (trans fats)—and unsaturated fats, which are abundant in seeds, nuts, olive oil, and most vegetable oils. The main sources of cholesterol include egg yolks, various meats and organ meats, shellfish,...
01:29Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation
Although not a source of energy, cholesterol plays a significant role as a foundational structure for bile salts, steroid hormones, and vitamin D, as well as being a crucial component of plasma membranes. Approximately 15% of blood cholesterol is derived from our diet, with the remainder synthesized from acetyl CoA by the liver and intestines. Cholesterol is eliminated from the body through its conversion into bile salts, which are eventually discarded in the feces.
Considering cholesterol and...
Considering cholesterol and...
01:30Serum Laboratory Studies, Stool Test, Breath Test
Gastrointestinal (GI) diagnostic studies are pivotal in confirming, ruling out, diagnosing, or staging various diseases, including cancers. Following diagnosis, allocating time for discussions with the patient and providing informational resources is crucial. Diagnostic assessments of the GI tract often occur in outpatient settings like endoscopy suites or GI labs. Preparation for these tests may include dietary restrictions, fasting, liquid bowel preparations, laxatives, enemas, and the...
01:31Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body
Fats and lipids are crucial components in the human body. Some lipid-derived compounds, such as fat-soluble vitamins, eicosanoids, lipoproteins, and glycolipids, also play unique roles to support various biological processes .
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are required in minimal quantities, but their deficiencies can lead to severely abnormal physiological conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, dry skin, delayed...
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are required in minimal quantities, but their deficiencies can lead to severely abnormal physiological conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, dry skin, delayed...
01:24Serum Studies: Renal Function Tests
Renal function tests are crucial for assessing kidney health, monitoring disease progression, and evaluating the kidneys' efficiency in waste elimination, fluid balance, and electrolyte regulation. These tests offer critical insights into kidney function, even though routine measurements may appear normal until there is a significant decline in the glomerular filtration rate or GFR. Typically, signs of kidney impairment only become evident when the GFR falls to about 50% of its normal level.