Selenium is a mineral in nature and exists in soil and various foods. Although it is not an antioxidant, it has a decisive influence on the antioxidant system of the human body. It can form selenoproteins and is the only gene sequence. The trace elements present have various effects such as immune regulation, anti-oxidation, and anti-infection.
Do you know the benefits of selenium supplements?
Epidemiological observations have also repeatedly found that selenium deficiency is associated with a variety of diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, thyroid disorders, immune aging, cancer, etc.
A large French study also found that the concentration of selenium in the blood can be regarded as an indicator of longevity. Older people with higher concentrations have higher survival rates, while lower ones not only have a 54% higher mortality rate but also have a higher cancer rate. 79%, thus establishing the importance of selenium to human health.
Table of Contents
- What are the benefits recommended for selenium?
- Are there any side effects of Selenium?
- Where to buy selenium health products recommended by most people?
What are the benefits recommended for selenium?
1. Reduce the incidence of cancer
Cancer is by far the biggest threat to human health and ranks first among the top ten causes of death (almost 30% of the causes of death are related to it). Because the causes are very complicated, there is no effective treatment in medicine and only the more intense ones such as radiotherapy Eradication therapy.
However, it is currently known that 60% of cancers are related to diet and daily life, and the rest are caused by unpredictable factors such as genetics, viruses, and aging. Therefore, as long as you are determined, cancer is definitely a preventable disease.
An early study found that supplemental selenium (200 mcg) can reduce cancer mortality and cancer incidence by about 50%, especially lung cancer, bowel cancer, and prostate cancer are the most note 1, but a subsequent reanalysis pointed out This result is only for those with lower selenium concentration in the body.
Recently, a large Systematic Review (Systematic Review), including 55 observational studies (total number of more than one million people) and 8 randomized controlled trials (400,000 people) in the past 30 years.
Among them, 16 observational studies found that higher selenium exposure/selenium exposure (referring to diet or supplement intake) can reduce the risk of various types of cancer by 31% (prostate cancer, bladder cancer, stomach cancer, lung cancer, Bowel cancer is more obvious) and 40% cancer-related mortality.
*Conclusion: Relying on the supplement of selenium to prevent all cancers, the related results are still inconsistent (both positive and negative opinions), and the dosage forms, doses, and individual differences included in the experiment are different, so more complete experiments are needed to appear.
2. Prevent cardiovascular disease?
Cardiovascular disease is a collective term that includes the heart, blood vessels, or both. Commonly known are coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism.
Although cardiovascular diseases are fatal (the leading cause of death), most of the pathogenic factors can be prevented or controlled, such as high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, diabetes, obesity, smoking, lack of exercise, stress, unhealthy eating habits, and diabetes.
A systematic literature review (meta-analysis, including 16 observational studies and 16 randomized controlled trials) pointed out that the blood selenium content has a non-linear U-shaped curve relationship with the risk of cardiovascular disease, and the concentration is between 55 and 145 μg/l Time can bring the best protection benefits (below or above this interval may be harmful).
In addition, regarding the additional intake of selenium health products, there is currently no effect found to prevent cardiovascular diseases.
*Conclusion: The content of selenium in the blood can bring cardiovascular protection benefits in a specific range, but the additional supplements have not been found to be positively helpful, which may be related to the original selenium status, dosage, and period of use, and need to be verified by more studies.
3. Beneficial immune thyroid disease: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common form of immune thyroid disease in the body. It is caused by the immune system attacking the thyroid and often causes the insufficient secretion of thyroid hormones, which leads to cold fear, low mood, dry skin, puffy eyes, constipation, weight gain, heart rate Relieve symptoms such as joint and muscle fatigue.
The factors that cause Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are mainly related to stress, iodine intake, smoking, drugs (such as arrhythmia, interferon), radiation, and environmental toxicants.
A systematic literature review and meta-analysis (including 9 studies involving 679 patients with autoimmune thyroiditis) pointed out that regardless of the use of levothyroxine replacement therapy, additional selenium supplementation is Thyroid hormone level (TSH), thyroid ultrasound values and quality of life did not bring about significant improvement.
*Conclusion: Although selenium may be helpful for immune diseases, there is still a lack of evidence for its application in body immune thyroiditis, and it is not recommended for long-term use.
4. Beneficial cervical cancer
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary risk factor for cervical cancer. About 70% of cases are related to HPV 16 and HPV 18 viruses.
In most cases, the immune system can eliminate the virus, but smoking, long-term use of birth control pills, multiple sexual partners, intrauterine contraceptive use, immune system diseases, etc., will greatly increase the risk of disease.
A systematic literature review and meta-analysis (including 12 controlled studies) pointed out that compared with the healthy control group, the concentration of selenium in the blood of cervical cancer patients was significantly lower, and the higher selenium level for the cervix Cancer may have a protective effect.
*Conclusion: For patients with cervical cancer, higher levels of selenium in the blood have a positive effect on the disease.
5. Rheumatoid arthritis risk
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. In addition to affecting joints, it may also cause skin, eye, lung, heart, and blood vessel damage.
Unlike the wear and tear of degenerative osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis mainly inflames the synovium of the joints, which in turn causes bone erosion and joint deformities.
It is also found clinically that rheumatoid patients have twice the probability of myocardial infarction as normal people, which is one of the main causes of death.
A meta-analysis (including 14 case-control studies with a total of 716 participants) pointed out that those with a lower selenium concentration in the blood will significantly increase the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. The underlying mechanism is related to selenium’s auxiliary antioxidant and free radical scavenging abilities.
6. Promotes immune function
The body is born with the function of maintaining health (immune function). Sound immune cells can protect the body and prevent the invasion of various bacteria and viruses. Unfortunately, with age, the immune function will gradually weaken, and it is easy to form infections, concentration, and self Immune diseases.
Many empirical studies have found that selenium plays a decisive role in the immune system, and the most well-known path through which selenium affects the immune system is selenoproteins. Selenoproteins have the effect of regulating immune and inflammatory pathways (such as immune cell proliferation, differentiation and activation are all Need it, if insufficient will affect B cell to make antibodies or T cell immune response).
If a group with insufficient selenium intake can supplement it, it will have the effect of improving immunity, so selenium can be regarded as an immune promoter.
In a double-blind controlled study (for patients with aggressive head and neck cancer, and given 200 mcg of selenium for 8 consecutive weeks), it was found that patients taking selenium can improve the immune response (especially the production of cytotoxic T lymphocytes/Cytotoxic lymphocytes and Increase the ability to destroy cancer cells).
In addition, a study on hepatitis B vaccine injection also found that if the vaccinated person took a selenium supplement (200 mcg per day for 30 days), the hepatitis B antibody in the blood could reach the standard value quickly (taking selenium has 74% met the standard, compared with only 48% of the placebo group reached the standard value).
7. Reduce the incidence of sepsis
Sepsis is one of the leading causes of death in critically ill patients. Even with early diagnosis and administration of antibiotics and other supportive therapies, the mortality rate remains high, as high as 21% to 53%.
The observation of the intensive care unit also found that the blood selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase in the patients were too low, which not only increased the nosocomial infections in the hospital but also had a significant correlation with sepsis and mortality.
Two retrospective meta-analysis (including 21 randomized controlled trials) found that for severe patients (septicemia or septic shock), intravenous selenium can reduce deaths ranging from 17% to 27% risk. However, due to the great differences in the research methods of the median, and the exact dose is not determined, more high-quality studies are still to be further verified.
8. Reduce the incidence of thyroid disease
The thyroid is asymmetrical tissue under the throat that resembles a butterfly. Its main function is to secrete thyroxine and calcitonin. It has the functions of regulating metabolic protein synthesis, oxygen consumption, calcium and phosphorus balance, etc.
Many thyroid dysfunction diseases are also related to the imbalance of thyroxine secretion. Too much may lead to heart palpitations, handshaking, weight loss, restlessness, and bulging eyes. Too little will slow down metabolism, growth retardation, constipation, and cold. The right amount of thyroxine is very important for health.
According to an epidemiological observation in China (the number of samples is 6152), the prevalence of thyroid disease is significantly related to the concentration of selenium in the blood of local people. The incidence of selenium concentration is only 18% (compared to 30.5% of those with selenium deficiency)
The same study also pointed out that the higher the selenium concentration, the lower the incidence of benign thyroid diseases, such as autoimmune thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism, and enlarged thyroid.
Are there any side effects of Selenium?
Selenium is one of the trace elements in minerals. Moderate intake has many health benefits, especially for ethnic groups whose blood concentration of selenium is below 122 mcg/L, but long-term additional supplementation (leading to blood concentration exceeding 122 mcg/L) may still cause side effects.
Common symptoms of selenium poisoning include gastrointestinal upset, tiredness, irritability, nausea, garlic breathing, nervousness, fragile hair, and nails.
In addition, a large double-blind controlled study (1312 people) found that for people with higher blood selenium concentration, the additional use of selenium supplements (200 μg daily, tracking period up to 7.7 years) may increase The risk of developing diabetes.
But so far, the mechanism behind this observation (the relationship between selenium and blood glucose metabolism) is still not fully understood, so it should not cause doubts for healthy ethnic groups, but should be cautious for groups with high selenium concentrations in the body and high diabetes risk Ingest.
Safety Precautions
Do not use for patients with poor liver and kidney function (because the relevant safety is unknown).
Do not use with the following drugs, such as Cisplatin, Clozapine, Corticosteroids, Depakote, Barbiturates, Simvastatin, which may affect the absorption of selenium and interfere with the effects of drugs.
Do not use it with anticoagulants, such as Aspirin, Warfarin, Heparin, which may increase the risk of bleeding.
Taking birth control pills may cause blood selenium concentration to increase. If additional supplements are needed, please pay attention to the dosage or discuss with your doctor
Where to buy selenium health products recommended by most people?
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