Effects of Selenium in the Microcirculation of Fructose-Fed Hamsters

Fructose intake is directly related to vascular dysfunction and it is a risk factor for the development of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Selenium, a component of antioxidant enzymes, improves hyperglycemia and vascular function in diabetic animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary selenium supplementation on microcirculatory and metabolic parameters of fructose-fed hamsters.

Male hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) had their drinking water substituted or not by 10% fructose solution for 60 days, during which their microcirculatory function was evaluated in the cheek pouch preparation. Blood glucose and serum insulin levels were also tested. Microcirculatory responses to acetylcholine (an endothelium-dependent vasodilator) and to sodium nitroprusside (SNP, an endothelium-independent vasodilator), and macromolecular permeability increase induced by a 30-min ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) procedure, showed that endothelium-dependent and independent vasodilatation was significantly increased in animals that had high selenium supplementation, in both the control and fructose-fed groups. Selenium supplementation protected against plasma leakage induced by I/R in all control and fructose-fed groups.

Our results indicate that dietary selenium supplementation reduces microvascular dysfunction by increasing endothelial-dependent and independent dilatation and reducing macromolecular permeability increase in fructose-fed animals.