Selenium is an extremely vital trace mineral for the human body as it increases immunity, takes part in antioxidant activity that defends against free radical damage and inflammation, and plays a key role in maintaining a healthy metabolism. Selenium benefits our body by helping to prevent common forms of cancer, to fight off viruses, defend against heart disease, and to slow down symptoms correlated with other serious conditions like asthma. It is essential for successful male and female fertility and reproduction.
Selenium has been found to have the following benefits:
- Acts as an Antioxidant & Defends Against Oxidative Stress
- Helps Defend Against Cancer
- Boosts Immunity
- Improves Blood Flow & Lowers Chance of Heart Disease
- Regulates Thyroid Function
- Increases Longevity
- Helps Reduce Asthma Symptoms
- Can Help Boost Fertility
Health Problems Associated to Selenium Deficiency:
- Anxiety – Repletion of selenium to normal levels reduced anxiety scores in clinical trials. Some suggest the mechanism of action is due to its role in key regulatory proteins (selenoproteins).
- Asthma – Part of the enzyme (called glutathione peroxidase) that protects against asthmatic lung tissue damage. Supplementation trials are promising.
- Depression – Integral part of regulatory proteins (selenoproteins) in the brain. Supplementation trials are promising. May alleviate postpartum depression.
- Dyslipidemia – Prevents post-prandial (after a meal) changes in lipoproteins that make them susceptible to oxidation and thus harmful.
- Estrogen – Estrogen levels affect how selenium is distributed to various tissues in the body.
- Fatigue – Several studies confirm that oxidative stress exacerbates clinical symptoms of fatigue. Mitochondrial dysfunction (inefficient energy metabolism) can be treated therapeutically with antioxidants such as Selenium, Cysteine, Alpha Lipoic Acid and Glutathione of which unusually low levels are seen in chronic fatigue patients.
- Fibromyalgia – Low antioxidant status (glutathione, cysteine, CoQ10, selenium, alpha lipoic acid, and vitamin c) increases pain in fibromyalgia, which is often considered an oxidative stress disorder. Deficiency of selenium is linked to fibromyalgia. In one trial, symptoms improved in 95% of patients supplemented with selenium for at least 4 weeks.
- Gastrointestinal Health – Cofactor to glutathione peroxidase (GPx) which protects intestinal wall from inflammatory damage. Lower GPx activity due to selenium deficiency is very common in people with gut inflammation.
- Female Fertility – Deficiency implicated in miscarriage and infertility. In one trial, 100% of infertile women achieved pregnancy after supplementation.
- Hypothyroidism – Converts thyroid hormones T4 (thyroxine) into T3 (triiodothyronine). Deficience reduces T3 levels causing classic hypothyroidism symptoms such as fatigue, depression and/or weight gain.
- Inflammation – Subclinical deficiency negatively alters genes that regulate the inflammatory response. Deficiency promotes vascular inflammation.
- Methylation – Inhibits a methylating enzyme (DNA methyltransferase) in cancer genes, effectively turning them off. Selenoproteins protect DNA and metabolize methionine.
- Pain – Minerals are a cofactor for the potent antioxidant superoxide dismutase, which fights free radicals, a known source of pain. Treatment with Selenium improves muscle pain in deficient patients.
- Sleep Apnea – In one case report, selenium supplementation completely stopped snoring caused by non-obesity sleep apnea. Selenium’s role as a potent antioxidant may reduce the oxidative stress seen in sleep apnea patients. The trace minerals Selenium, Magnesium, Manganese, Zinc and Copper are critical cofactors for the major antioxidant enzymes which are important in repairing cellular damage caused by hypoxia (lack of oxygen) in sleep apnea.
- Telomeres – In vitro supplementation extended telomere length in liver cells. Selenoproteins protect DNA.
Toxicity of Selenium:
The toxicity of most forms of selenium is rare and usually only experienced in people who supplement with high levels of selenium. Too high of levels can lead to selenium poisoning or toxicity, and this can potentially be fatal or lead to heart attack and respiratory (lung) depression.
How to Acquire Selenium:
- Brazil Nuts
- Eggs
- Sunflower Seeds
- Liver
- Rockfish
- Tuna
- Herring Fish
- Chicken Breast
- Salmon
- Turkey
- Chia Seeds
