Proceeding
Insulin-mimetic Action of Selenium Compounds
1994 Volume 11 Pages 57-61
Details
1994 Volume 11 Pages 57-61
During the investigations of phyiological and pharmacological activities of selenium (Se) compounds, we found that selenite which is the +4 oxidation state of selenium has a good insulin-like action, as evaluated by in vivo and in vitro experiments.
Normalizations of both blood glucose and free fatty acids (FAA) levels of streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats (STZ-rats) were found when they received daily ip injection of both sodium selenite ( +4 Se) or sodium selanate ( +6 Se). However, sodium selenite was effective to inhibite FAA release from isolated rats adipocytes treated with epinephrine.
Based on these results, selenite or selenide, which is a reduced form of Se in cells, was proposed to be an active form of selenium in providing the insulin-mimetic action of selenium compounds.
