Selenium Lowers Insulin but Not Clearly Blood Sugar
Graded Moderate — an analysis pooling randomized trials with 10,916 people; the trials varied widely and the certainty of many findings was rated low.
- Design
- Meta-analysis
- Participants
- 10,916
- Duration
- —
- Funding
- Hubei University of Medicine (Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training…
Selenium pills slightly lowered insulin levels in adults but did not clearly change fasting blood sugar or long-term blood sugar.
Selenium is a trace mineral the body needs in small amounts. Among other things, it helps protect cells from damage by aggressive oxygen compounds. A large analysis found that people who took selenium pills ended up with slightly less insulin in their blood. Calculated scores of insulin resistance, meaning how poorly cells respond to insulin, also fell. Fasting blood sugar and HbA1c, a long-term blood sugar measure, showed no clear change.
The researchers pooled trials in which people were chosen at random to get selenium or a dummy pill or nothing. Together they included 10,916 adults, among them pregnant women with gestational diabetes. The median daily dose was 200 micrograms. LDL cholesterol and the lower blood pressure number dropped slightly. Side effects were mostly mild, such as gas.
The effects are small, and the trials varied a lot. About half came from Iran, and most of the rest from China and other parts of Asia. The authors think the results apply mainly to people with fairly low selenium levels. Long-term safety remains unsettled, because side effects were reported incompletely.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.