Matheus Von Jelita Salina et al. Vitor Hugo Moro Pironatto André Amaro Mamédio dos Santos Tiago Daniel Gueiber … Luiz Gustavo Lima Eduardo Machado Dechandt Camila Cury Caruso Pedro Henrique Karpinski Thiago Martins Figueiredo Alceu de Oliveira Toledo-Junior Camila Marinelli Martins Ricardo Zanetti Gomes
Abstract
Background:
Residual cardiovascular risk persists even with adequate serum LDL-c control through statins, possibly due to dysfunctions in serum triglycerides and HDL-c. Elevated TG and reduced HDL-c are associated with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. The TG/HDL-c ratio may predict these risks. Selenium, an antioxidant cofactor, may modulate these alterations, especially in diets that dysregulate serum lipid metabolism.
Objectives:
To evaluate the effects of selenium supplementation on the cardiometabolic risk (CMR) of Wistar rats exposed to a high-fat hyperglycemic diet (HHD).
Methods:
For 11 weeks, 55 female Wistar rats were divided into the following five groups: standard diet (SD), SD + ContinuousSe, HHD, HHD + LateSe, and HHD + EarlySe. Selenium was supplemented using sodium selenite (1 mg/kg). We performed one-way ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis, and post hoc tests, adopting a significance level of p < 0.05.
Results:
Total cholesterol increased in HHD + LateSe compared to SD (p = 0.032) and to HHD (p = 0.013). HDL-c increased in HHD + LateSe compared to SD (p = 0.004) and to HHD (p = 0.008). LDL-c increased in HHD + LateSe compared to HHD (p = 0.008). TG decreased in HHD + LateSe (p = 0.006) and in HHD + EarlySe (p = 0.016) compared to SD. TG/HDL-c ratio decreased in HHD + LateSe compared to SD (p < 0.001) and SD + ContinuousSe (p = 0.013); and in HHD + EarlySe compared to SD (p = 0.005).
Conclusion:
Selenium supplementation showed potential to increase HDL-c and reduce TG, key diagnostic components of metabolic syndrome. It also demonstrated potential to lower the TG/HDL-c ratio, a possible predictor of CMR, in rats fed HHD. Further studies are needed in subjects with high CMR and statin use to better define the clinical response to this therapy.