Role of selenium in type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and insulin secretion

Selenium is a trace mineral essential for life that acts physiologically through selenoproteins. Among other actions, the endogenous antioxidant selenoprotein glutathione peroxidase and the selenium transporter in blood, selenoprotein P, seem to play an important role in type 2 diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance by weakening the insulin signaling cascade through different mechanisms. Recent findings also suggest that selenoproteins also affect insulin biosynthesis and insulin secretion. This review discussed the role of selenium in type 2 diabetes and the complex interplay between selenoproteins and insulin pathways.