Evaluation of serum selenium levels in Turkish women with gestational diabetes mellitus, glucose intolerants, and normal controls

The aim of the study was to investigate the association between serum selenium levels in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and glucose intolerants and compare them with those of glucose-tolerant pregnant women. This cross-sectional study was prospectively performed in a total of 178 pregnant women undergoing a 50-g oral glucose tolerance test between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation who were grouped according to their status of glucose tolerance as with gestational diabetes (group A, abnormal 1- and 3-h glucose tolerance test; n=30), glucose intolerant (group B, abnormal 1-h but normal 3-h glucose tolerance test; n=47), or normal controls (group C, normal 1-h glucose test; n=101). Serum selenium levels were measured with a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer using a matrix modifier. Median maternal age and gestational age at the time of diagnosis in group A (gestational age=24.8 [24-27]), group B (gestational age=24.7 [24-27]), and group C (gestational age=25 [24-28]) did not differ. Patients with gestational diabetes mellitus and those with glucose intolerants had lower selenium level than that of the normal pregnant women (P < 0.001). There was a significant inverse correlation between selenium and blood glucose level, and also selenium supplementation might prove beneficial on patients with GDM and prevent or retard them from secondary complications of diabetes.