Abstract: Objective To explore the effects of different selenium concentrations and dietary structures on glucose metabolism. Methods A total of 150 6-week-old Wistar rats were randomly divided into 15 groups, with 5 female and 5 male rats in each group. Each group was fed for 4 weeks with 3 different concentrations of selenium and 5 different dietary structures, altogether 15 kinds of feedings. The weight of rats was measured every week. After 4 weeks, the rats were sacrificed, the serum selenium and glucose levels were detected, and the effects of different selenium concentrations and dietary structures on glucose metabolism were analyzed. Results There were differences in effects between male and female rats: female rats had smaller growth rate of body weight than male rats(P<0.001); female rats had lower selenium level than male rats, and the difference was statistically significant except in the ordinary control group(P<0.05). Different selenium concentrations and dietary structures had effects on serum selenium level, and there was an interaction effect in female rats(P=0.003). Female rats had lower serum glucose level than male rats, and the differences were statistically significant in high-protein group, high-glucose group and high-fat group(P<0.05). There was an interaction between the effects of different selenium concentrations and dietary structures on blood glucose(P<0.05). Conclusion There is an interaction between selenium concentration and dietary structure on serum selenium and glucose levels in rats, but the specific mechanism remains to be further explored.

Key words: Selenium, Dietary structure, Rat, Serum glucose, Glucose metabolism