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Effects of Selenium on Chronic Kidney Disease: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Shaojie Fu1, Li Zhang1, Fuzhe Ma1
1Department of Nephrology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
Nutrients
|November 11, 2022
Summary
High selenium levels causally impair kidney function, indicated by decreased eGFR and increased BUN. This Mendelian randomization study clarifies the controversial association between selenium and chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Nephrology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Observational studies suggest a controversial link between selenium levels and chronic kidney disease (CKD).
- Previous research has yielded conflicting results regarding selenium's impact on kidney health.
- This study aims to clarify the causal relationship between selenium and CKD.
Approach:
- Utilized a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the causal role of selenium on CKD risk.
- Employed genetic variants associated with circulating and toenail selenium levels from large genome-wide association studies (GWAS).
- Analyzed outcome data from a comprehensive GWAS meta-analysis of European-ancestry participants for kidney function, applying the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method and sensitivity analyses.
Key Points:
- Genetically predicted selenium levels were significantly associated with decreased estimated glomerular filtration (eGFR).
- Increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were observed with higher genetically predicted selenium levels.
- No evidence of pleiotropy was detected, strengthening the causal inference.
Conclusions:
- The MR analysis provides evidence that elevated selenium levels are a causative factor for impaired kidney function.
- This finding suggests a direct detrimental effect of selenium on the kidneys.
- The study contributes to understanding the etiology of chronic kidney disease.
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