Blackmores Institute

In a cross-sectional study of over 6000 subjects of (mean age 52 years) with prevalence of osteoporosis of nine percent, researchers found middle-aged and older participants with lower levels of dietary selenium intake had a higher prevalence of osteoporosis.
 
 “In the present study, a negative association between dietary selenium (Se) intake and the prevalence of osteoporosis (OP) was identified independent of major confounders. This correlation remained consistent across male and female subjects, and exhibited a dose-response relationship manner,” the authors reported.
 
 According to the researchers, several observational studies have investigated the association between dietary Se intake and bone mineral density or osteoporotic hip fracture and several mechanisms linking Se with osteoporosis have been postulated.
 
 “First, it has been reported that interleukin-6 (IL-6) and some other cytokines play a significant role in the pathogenesis of OP and Se can exert anti-inflammatory actions, mediated in part by the inhibitory effects on IL-6 and cytokine activities, suggesting a mechanism by which Se can regulate bone turnover and, in turn, have a protective effect on OP. 
 
 “Second, evidence has also shown that reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays an important role in the development of OP and selenoproteins, which have been proved as the essential Se transporter to bones can be expressed in both bone-resorbing osteoclasts and bone-forming osteoblasts, and eliminate ROS after being generated; thus, a limiting threshold of Se is probably required for adequate selenoprotein-mediated antioxidant activity and bone maintenance,” the authors explained.
 
 A third mechanism, reported in the study may be that Se-dependent iodothyronine deiodinases can control thyroid hormone turnover, and Se-dependent glutathione peroxidases are implicated in thyroid gland protection, therefore, the lack of Se may increase the level of thyroid hormones in the blood which may accelerate bone loss and lead to osteoporosis.
 
 “Nowadays, OP has been widely deemed a significant contributor to the social healthcare burden due to its high mortality, morbidity, and treatment expenses. The aetiology of OP is multifactorial, among the already known aetiologies, dietary factors are believed to have a great importance. However, most of the existing studies have a focus on calcium intake, while other dietary factors, especially trace elements, which may also play a significant role in preventing OP are seldom investigated.
 
 “The findings of our study may give a hint of the pathogenesis of OP, and future studies of dietary intake, including Se supplementary intake, on the risk of OP are warranted,” the authors concluded.
 
 Source:
 BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2019. DOI: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-019-2958-5">10.1186/s12891-019-2958-5</a>

New research has found an association between levels of dietary selenium intake and the prevalence of osteoporosis.

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