Supplements

Organic selenium supplementation improves glycemic control and insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes and diabetic peripheral neuropathy

In a triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 50 patients with T2DM and DPN received 200 μg/day organic selenium or placebo for 8 weeks. Selenium significantly reduced fasting blood sugar (mean difference -33.95 mg/dL), HbA1c (-1.20%), and HOMA-IR (-1.57), while increasing QUICKI (0.02). No significant between-group improvements were seen in overall quality of life or sleep quality, except for daytime dysfunction.

Last updated: Aug 26, 2026•1 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score44/100
Human RCT★★☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Impact of organic selenium supplementation on glycaemic control and quality of life in patients with diabetic neuropathy: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

observational

Bahari P, Mobasseri M, Ranjbari S, Asadi E, Shojaie-Dizaji L, Khakpaki A, Farshbaf-Khalili A · European journal of nutrition (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: 8 weeks
Intervention: 200 μg/day organic selenium (as selenium-enriched yeast) for 8 weeks
Outcome: Fasting blood sugar (FBS), HbA1c, HOMA-IR, QUICKI, WHOQOL-BREF quality of life, PSQI sleep quality
Effect Size: Adjusted mean differences: FBS -33.95 mg/dL, HbA1c -1.20%, HOMA-IR -1.57, QUICKI +0.02
Population: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and confirmed diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Result:

PubMed: 42631762DOI: 10.1007/s00394-026-04091-8

Mechanism Graph

Selenium acts as an antioxidant, reducing oxidative stress associated with hyperglycemia
↓
Selenium may enhance insulin signaling and glucose uptake in peripheral tissues
↓
Improved insulin sensitivity leads to better glycemic control
↓
Result: Reduced FBS, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR, increased QUICKI

Limitations

  • ⚠Modest sample size (n=50)
  • ⚠Short follow-up duration (8 weeks)
  • ⚠Single-centre design
  • ⚠No long-term assessment of neuropsychological benefits

Frequently Asked Questions

What dose of selenium was used in this study?▼

200 μg/day of organic selenium as selenium-enriched yeast.

How long did the supplementation last?▼

The intervention lasted for 8 weeks.

Did selenium improve sleep quality?▼

Only daytime dysfunction component of sleep quality improved significantly; overall PSQI did not differ between groups.

Was the HbA1c reduction clinically meaningful?▼

The 1.2% reduction is considered clinically meaningful, but caution is advised due to study limitations.

Products

Affiliate links coming soon. We only recommend products that match the doses and forms used in the cited research.

References

  1. 1.Bahari P, Mobasseri M, Ranjbari S, Asadi E, Shojaie-Dizaji L, Khakpaki A, Farshbaf-Khalili A. "Impact of organic selenium supplementation on glycaemic control and quality of life in patients with diabetic neuropathy: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.." European journal of nutrition, 2026. PMID: 42631762 DOI: 10.1007/s00394-026-04091-8
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.