Selenium intake modifies the association of dietary fat with hypertension among Chinese adults: a cohort study

The role of selenium intake on the association of fat intake with hypertension remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship among selenium intake, dietary fat and hypertension risk among Chinese adults.

Data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey were used. Individuals who were free of hypertension at baseline (2004) and participated at least once in the subsequent surveys (2006, 2009, and 2011) were included in this study. Generalized estimating equation models were used to explore the relationship between fat intake and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and hypertension risk, as well as the modifying effect of selenium intake.

Among a total 5,643 participants, 1,722 adults developed hypertension during the follow-up period. After adjusting for covariates, participants in the highest fat intake group had significantly increased risk of hypertension compared with the lowest group (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.01-1.47). The risk of hypertension tended to increase with increasing fat intake in the low selenium intake group, but not in the high selenium intake group. Systolic blood pressure increased by 0.69 mmHg (95% CI: 0.17-1.22) with increasing 50 g/day fat intake in the low selenium intake group (T1), whereas this association was not significant in the selenium intake T2 and T3 groups.

Selenium intake may modify the relationship between fat intake and hypertension, with high selenium intake attenuating the negative effects of fat intake on hypertension risk.