BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress is a risk factor for distal sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSPN). Selenoprotein P is a protein with antioxidant properties but has not been investigated in the context of DSPN. This study aimed to assess the associations between selenoprotein P and DSPN in people without and with type 2 diabetes (T2D). METHODS: Cross-sectional and prospective analyses were based on 1053 (including 217 with T2D) and 513 participants (including 79 with T2D), respectively, aged 61-82 years from the population-based KORA F4 survey. DSPN at baseline (KORA F4) and in the follow-up survey KORA FF4 was defined based on the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument. Serum levels of full-length selenoprotein P were quantified by ELISA. Associations between selenoprotein P and prevalent or incident DSPN were estimated using logistic regression analysis adjusting for multiple confounders. RESULTS: Selenoprotein P levels were not associated with prevalent DSPN in the total sample. However, there was a significant interaction by diabetes status. Higher levels of selenoprotein P were associated with lower odds of prevalent DSPN in individuals without T2D (fully adjusted model: OR 0.825 [95% CI 0.682, 0.998], p=0.0476), but not in those with T2D (OR [95% CI] 1.098 [0.829, 1.454], p=0.5132; pinteraction=0.0488). Selenoprotein P levels were not associated with incident DSPN over a follow-up of 6.5 years. CONCLUSION: In individuals without T2D from the older general population, lower selenoprotein P levels were associated with a higher prevalence of DSPN. Whether the antioxidant properties of selenoprotein P are responsible for the observed associations remains to be elucidated in future research.
GrantsJapan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) Ministry of Culture and Science of the state North Rhine-Westphalia (Dusseldorf, Germany) German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) through the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.) Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen - German Research Center for Environmental Health - German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) State of Bavaria JSPS KAKENHI German Federal Ministry of Health (Berlin, Germany)