Abstract

While selenium is a cofactor of several antioxidant enzymes against cancer and is essential for human health, its excess intake may also be harmful. Though a safe intake of selenium has recently been recommended, it is not well understood in the Asian population. We aimed to determine the association between dietary intake of selenium and cancer risk in a case–control study of 3758 incident cancer cases (i.e., stomach, colon, rectum, lung cancers, and other sites) and 2929 control subjects in Vietnam. Daily intake of selenium was derived from a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. The unconditional logistic regression model was used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between selenium intake and cancer risk. We observed a U-shaped association between selenium intake and cancer risk. A safe intake ranged from 110.8 to 124.4 µg/day (mean 117.8 µg/day). Compared to individuals with the safe intake of selenium, individuals with the lowest intake (i.e., 27.8–77.2 µg/day) were associated with an increased risk of cancer (OR = 3.78, 95% CI 2.89–4.95) and those with the highest intake (169.1–331.7 µg/day) also had an increased cancer risk (OR = 1.86, 95% CI 1.45–2.39). A U-shaped pattern of association between selenium intake and cancer risk was stronger among participants with body mass index (BMI) < 23 kg/m2 and never smokers than BMI ≥ 23 kg/m2 and ever smokers (P’sheterogeneity = 0.003 and 0.021, respectively) but found in both never and ever-drinkers of alcohol (Pheterogeneity = 0.001). A U-shaped association between selenium intake and cancer risk was seen in cancer sites of the stomach, colon, rectum, and lung cancers. In summary, we found a U-shaped association between selenium intake and cancer risk and a safe selenium intake (mean: 117.8 µg/day) in the Vietnamese population. Further mechanistic investigation is warranted to understand better a U-shaped association between selenium intake and cancer risk.

Details

Title
A U-shaped association between selenium intake and cancer risk
Author
Le, Ngoan Tran 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Pham, Yen Thi-Hai 2 ; Le, Chung Thi-Kim 3 ; Le, Linh Thuy 4 ; Le, Thanh-Do 5 ; Dao, Hang Viet 6 ; Ha, Toan H. 7 ; Kuchipudi, Suresh V. 7 ; Luu, Hung N. 2 

1  Duy Tan University, Institute of Research and Development, Da Nang, Vietnam (GRID:grid.444918.4) (ISNI:0000 0004 1794 7022); Hanoi Medical University, Department of Occupational Health, Institute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi, Vietnam (GRID:grid.56046.31) (ISNI:0000 0004 0642 8489) 
2  The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, USA (GRID:grid.478063.e) (ISNI:0000 0004 0456 9819); University of Pittsburgh, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, USA (GRID:grid.21925.3d) (ISNI:0000 0004 1936 9000) 
3  Hanoi Medical University, Laboratory Center, School of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi, Vietnam (GRID:grid.56046.31) (ISNI:0000 0004 0642 8489) 
4  Imagine Institute, INSERM UMR, Laboratory of Embryology and Genetics of Human Malformation, Paris, France (GRID:grid.462336.6) 
5  Duy Tan University, Institute for Global Health Innovations, Da Nang, Vietnam (GRID:grid.444918.4) (ISNI:0000 0004 1794 7022) 
6  Hanoi Medical University, Department of Internal Medicine, Hanoi, Vietnam (GRID:grid.56046.31) (ISNI:0000 0004 0642 8489) 
7  University of Pittsburgh, Department of Infectious Disease and Microbiology, School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, USA (GRID:grid.21925.3d) (ISNI:0000 0004 1936 9000) 
Pages
21378
Publication year
2024
Publication date
2024
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20452322
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66553-5
ProQuest document ID
3104345671
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2024. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.