Selenium and Diet

 

selenium

 What is selenium?

•   The word selenium comes from the Greek word, "selene," which means "moon.“

•   Selenium is a trace element found in soil, and is required in small amounts to maintain good health.

 

  Selenium Absorption

•  There are two main points about the selenium absorption issue:
1. Selenium is absorbed badly when combined with ascorbic acid in large doses, which can reduce the absorption of selenium.
2. The fact that organic selenium is generally absorbed better than inorganic selenium has been documented in various studies.

•    Both iron deficiency and copper deficiency appear to increase the risk of selenium deficiency.

    Impact of Cooking, Storage and Processing

•   Like most minerals, selenium is present in many different forms in food, and can vary greatly in its response to cooking and processing.

 

•   In some foods, where a greater percent of selenium is found in water-soluble form and contact with water is great, high losses of selenium can occur.

 

•   wheat flour - the kind that is used to make breads, and pastas, almost 75% of the original selenium is lost.

 

•   In the case of animal foods, loss of selenium from cooking appears minimal 

 

•   Major Benefits of Selenium

•   Selenium may have an anti-carcinogenic effect.

 

•   Selenium appears to help stimulate antibody formation in response to vaccines.This effect is enhanced by vitamin E.

 

•   Selenium may protect from the toxic effects of heavy metals .

 

•   Selenium may also aid in protein synthesis, growth and development, and fertility, especially in males, It  improve sperm production and motility.

 

•  Selenium can protect the heart, primarily by reducing the "stickiness" of the blood and decreasing the risk of clotting, in turn, lowering the risk of heart attack, and stroke.

 

•  selenium increases the ratio of HDL ("good") cholesterol to LDL ("bad") cholesterol, which is critical for a healthy heart.

 

•  Smokers or those who've already had a heart attack or stroke may gain the greatest cardiovascular benefits from selenium supplements.

 

•  selenium in addition to iodine, is a critical mineral for maintaining proper functioning of the thyroid gland.

•  Selenium may be useful in preventing cataracts and macular degeneration, the leading causes of impaired vision or blindness .

 

•  selenium is essential for a healthy immune system, assisting the body in defending itself against harmful bacteria and viruses, as well as cancer cells.

 

•  When combined with vitamin E, selenium appears to have some anti-inflammatory benefits as well. These two nutrients may improve chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and eczema.

 

•  Selenium supplementation helpful in reducing menopausal symptoms.

  The current recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for selenium for healthy individuals

Children	20 mcg/d
Males (11-18)	50 mcg/d
Males (adults)	70 mcg/d
Females	55 mcg/d
Pregnant	65 mcg/d
Lactating (1st 6 mos.)	75 mcg/d

 

  Food source of selenium

Food	Selenium content µg/ 100 g food
brazil nuts, dried, unblanched.	1917.11
Nuts, mixed nuts, oil roasted, with peanuts, with salt added.	421.16
Fish, tuna, light, canned in water.	80.35
Wheat flour, whole-grain	70.67
Oyster	66.47

 

 Selenium content

Food	Selenium content μg /100g
mushrooms, raw  (5oz)	36.85
Cod, baked/broiled    (4oz)	53.07
Shrimp, steamed/boiled (4oz)	55.57
Egg, whole, boiled   (one)	13.55
Brown rice, cooked   (1cup)	19.11

 

  Selenium Toxicity

•    High blood levels of selenium (greater than 100 μg /dL) can result in a condition called selenosis

 

•    Symptoms of selenosis include gastrointestinal upsets, hair loss, white blotchy nails, garlic breath odor, fatigue, irritability, and mild nerve damage .

  

Selenium supplements

    Organic selenium source:

•   Selenium occurs  in foods such as corn, wheat, and soybean as selenomethionine

 

•  Most of the selenium in high selenium yeasts is in the form of selenomethionine.

 

•  Inorganic forms of selenium.

 

•  Sodium selenite and sodium selenate.

 

• Organic forms of selenium (selenium yeast and selenomethionine, or selenocysteine) are always preferable to inorganic because of their better absorption and lower toxicity, even when ingested at much higher amounts.

 

•     Several studies have shown that organic selenium can be almost totally absorbed by the body whereas the inorganic one is variable, generally over 50%.

 

  Selenium Drug Interactions

•  When certain medications, such as aspirin or statin cholesterol medications, are taken with selenium, drug interactions may occur.

 

•  Some of these interactions could reduce the effectiveness of the medicines or increase your risk for developing side effects.

 

•  Even though it is a dietary supplement, not a "drug," selenium can potentially interact with some medicines.

  Some of the medicines that may lead to selenium drug interactions include:
 

Anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs, such as:

•     Aspirin.

•     Clopidogrel (plavix®)

•     Heparin

 

Thrombolytics, such as:

•    Streptokinase

•    Warfarin

 

Corticosteroids, such as:

•   prednisolone, dexamethasone, and triamcinolone.

 Barbiturates, such as:

•   Phenobarbital (Luminal®)

•   Cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as:

•   Atorvastatin (lipitor®)

 

 Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as:

•   Celecoxib.

•   Diclofen.

•   Ibuprofen, Ketoprofen .

•   Indomethacin.

•   Meloxicam.

•   Naproxen.

 

 What events can indicate a need for more high-selenium foods?

•  Weakness or pain in the muscles

•   Discoloration of the hair or skin

•   Whitening of the fingernail beds

 

 Who may need supplemental selenium?

•   severe gastrointestinal problems, such as Crohn's disease, or with surgical removal of part of the stomach.

•  People with acute severe illness who develop inflammation and widespread infection often have decreased levels of selenium in their blood.

 

•  People with iodine deficiency may also benefit from selenium supplementation.

 

•  Researchers believe that selenium deficiency may worsen the effects of iodine deficiency on thyroid function, and that adequate selenium nutritional status may help protect against some of the neurological effects of iodine deficiency

             

  Selenium deficiency

 

•  Selenium deficiency has also been seen in people who rely on total parenteral nutrition (TPN) as their sole source of nutrition

 

•  Severe gastrointestinal disorders may decrease the absorption of selenium, resulting in selenium depletion.

 

•  Deficiency of selenium leads to lowered glutathione peroxidase activity (cardiovascular disease) and it is implicated with a higher risk for cancer of the liver, lungs, breast, skin, rectum, colon, and prostate.

 

 Selenium and Acne

•   Selenium works to alleviate acne by boosting the antioxidant properties of Vitamin E.

 

•   Vitamin E is an antioxidant that resides primarily in the skin tissues, and located to catch bacteria which can cause acne.

•   Some scientists also believe that you should add Vitamin A to this mix for the most beneficial results to your skin.

Once you begin taking Selenium in combination with regular washing and perhaps a medicated cream you should notice improvement in about twelve weeks.

  Selenium and Keshan disease

•    Keshan disease is a cardiomyopathy (heart disease) restricted to areas of China in people having an extremely low selenium status.

 

•   Prophylactic administration of sodium selenite has been shown to significantly decrease the incidence of this disorder.

 

•   selenomethionine has been reported to have nearly twice the bioavailability of selenium as selenite.

 

 Latest Findings

•   Recent studies show that in the test tube selenium works relatively quickly, helping cells grow and die at normal rates and protecting them from becoming cancerous.

 

•   According to the journal Agriculture Research, studies in mice show that a deficiency in either selenium or vitamin E both antioxidants can convert a latent, inactive virus into its active, disease-causing form.

 

•  This may help explain why selenium is effective against cold sores and shingles, which are both caused by reactivation of herpes virus.

   Recommendation

 

•   A high selenium intake can cause serious toxicity and even death.  

 

•   Selenium supplementation in who have an underactive thyroid due to iodine deficiency can actually make their thyroid problems worse.

 

•   If you have iodine deficiency, do not take selenium supplements without your healthcare provider's approval.  

 

•  Some (but not all) research suggests that a long-term intake of high doses of selenium may increase the risk of skin cancer.

 

 

•  Some research suggests that a high selenium intake can decrease sperm motility so selenium supplements should avoided in infertility problems.  

 

•   Selenium supplements are not as closely regulated as prescription and non-prescription drugs.

 

•    Do not assume that just because a product is sold Freely it is safe or effective.  

 

•    Selenium may potentially interact with some medications . 

 

•    Normal dietary intakes of selenium are safe and beneficial for pregnant and breastfeeding women..