Wizard of Vitamins

Selenium Vitamin

What is Selenium?

Selenium is an essential trace mineral.

Selenium in Diets

Brazil nuts are the best source of selenium. Yeast, whole grains, and seafood are also good sources. Animal studies have found that selenium from yeast is better absorbed than selenium in the form of selenite.

Selenium Medicinal Treatments

Asthma Atherosclerosis Colon cancer (reduces risk) Depression Dermatitis herpetiformis Heart attack HIV support Immune function (for elderly people) Infections (to prevent hospital-acquired infections in very low birth weight infants) Infertility (male) Lung cancer (reduces risk) Lymphedema Osgood-Schlatter disease Pancreatic insufficiency Phenylketonuria (if deficient) Prostate cancer (reduces risk) Rheumatoid arthritis Thyroiditis (autoimmune) Cardiac arrhythmia Cardiomyopathy (only for Keshan’s cardiomyopathy) Childhood diseases Down’s syndrome Halitosis (if gum disease) Hepatitis Hypothyroidism (if deficient) Liver cirrhosis Macular degeneration Pap smear (abnormal) Pre- and post-surgery health Retinopathy (combined with vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E)

Known Consequences of Selenium Deficiency

While most people probably don’t take in enough selenium, gross deficiencies are rare in Western countries. Soils in some areas are selenium-deficient and people who eat foods grown primarily on selenium-poor soils are at risk for deficiency. People with AIDS have been reported to be depleted in selenium. Similarly, limited research has reported an association between heart disease and depleted levels of selenium. People who are deficient in selenium have an increased risk of developing certain types of rheumatoid arthritis.

Selenium Recommended Dosages

While the Recommended Dietary Allowance for most adults is 55 mcg per day, an adult intake of 100–200 mcg of selenium per day is recommended by many doctors.

Selenium Side Effects

Selenium is safe at the level people typically supplement (100–200 mcg); however, taking more than 900 mcg of selenium per day has been reported to cause adverse effects in some people. Selenium toxicity can result in loss of fingernails, skin rash, and changes in the nervous system. In the presence of iodine-deficiency-induced goiter, selenium supplementation has been reported to exacerbate low thyroid function. Although most research suggests that selenium prevents cancer, one study found an increased risk of a type of skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) in people taking selenium supplements. The National Academy of Sciences recommends that selenium intake not exceed 400 mcg per day, unless the higher intake is monitored by a healthcare professional. Selenium enhances the antioxidant effect of vitamin E. Certain medicines may interact with selenium. Refer to drug interactions for a list of those medicines.