Long-Term Selenium-Yeast Supplementation Does Not Affect Bone Turnover Markers: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled...

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Biochemistry
• Bone Metabolism
• Mineral Metabolism

Background:

• Epidemiological studies suggest a link between higher selenium status and lower bone turnover markers (BTMs).
• The long-term effects of selenium supplementation on BTMs remain largely uninvestigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the short-term (6 months) and long-term (5 years) effects of varying doses of selenium supplementation on BTMs.
• To assess the impact of selenium supplementation on osteocalcin (OC), procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (PINP), C-telopeptide (CTX), and bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP).

Main Methods:

• A randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving 481 Danish adults aged 60-74 years.
• Participants received placebo-yeast or 100, 200, or 300 µg of selenium as selenium-enriched yeast daily for 5 years.
• Plasma selenium concentrations and BTMs were measured at baseline, 6 months, and 5 years; data analyzed using ANCOVA.

Main Results:

• Selenium supplementation significantly increased plasma selenium concentrations in a dose-dependent manner.
• No significant effects of selenium supplementation were observed on OC, PINP, CTX, or BALP at 6 months or 5 years.
• Plasma selenium levels increased significantly with supplementation, confirming bioavailability.

Conclusions:

• Selenium supplementation did not alter BTMs in this cohort of older adults, likely due to their relatively replete baseline selenium status.
• Further research in selenium-deficient populations may be warranted to elucidate the role of selenium in bone health.