Moderating effect of selenium intake on the association between obesity and sex hormone levels in children and adolescents: NHANES 2013-2016.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the role of selenium intake on the correlation between obesity and sex hormone levels in children and adolescents. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Children and adolescents (6-19-year-old) with complete body mass index (BMI), selenium intake, and sex hormone level data were included. Applying weighted linear regression model to analyze the relationships of obesity and se-lenium intake with testosterone, estradiol, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels. Then, interaction terms for different selenium intake levels (<Q1, ≥Q1) and obesity (no, yes) were constructed, to investi-gate the moderating effect of selenium intake on the correlation between obesity and sex hormones. RESULTS: A total of 3,380 participants were enrolled. Although selenium intake showed no direct relationship with tes-tosterone, estradiol, or SHBG levels in any group (p > 0.05), it demonstrated a significant interaction with obesity in terms of sex hormone levels. In females aged less than 12 years, there was an interaction between obesity and selenium intake on testosterone levels (pinteraction = 0.007). The interaction of obesity and selenium intake on SHBG levels was observed in both males and females (all pinteraction <0.001). Moreover, a trend was observed for the effects of these interaction terms on testosterone, estradiol and SHBG levels (all ptrend <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Selenium intake may play a moderating effect in the relationship between obesity and sex hor-mones.