Dietary Selenium Intake and Sarcopenia in American Adults

Background: The relationship between dietary selenium intake and sarcopenia remains poorly understood. Therefore, this study investigates the associations between dietary selenium intake and sarcopenia among American adults.

Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 19,696 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the periods 1999-2006 and 2011-2018. Appendicular muscle mass, assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and adjusted for body mass index, was used as a marker for sarcopenia. Dietary selenium intake was evaluated using the 24-h dietary recall system, and the study accounted for the complex sampling methodology and incorporated dietary sample weights in the analysis.

Results: Among the 19,696 participants, the prevalence of sarcopenia was found to be 8.46%. When compared to the lowest quintile of dietary selenium intake (Q1, < 80.10 μg/day), the odds ratios for sarcopenia in the second quintile (Q2, 80.10-124.61 μg/day) and the third quintile (Q3, >124.61 μg/day) were 0.80 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.70-0.92, = 0.002] and 0.61 (95% CI: 0.51-0.73, < 0.001), respectively. A negative relationship was observed between dietary selenium intake and sarcopenia (non-linear: = 0.285). Furthermore, sensitivity analyses revealed a robust association between selenium intake and the prevalence of sarcopenia after further adjusting for blood selenium levels.

Conclusion: The results suggest an inverse association between dietary selenium intake and the prevalence of sarcopenia among American adults.