Selenium

Selenium is one of the essential trace elements: our body needs it for many metabolic processes, but cannot produce it itself.

Selenium occurs naturally in soil. Foods obtained from such soils are suitable sources of selenium for our bodies.

Selenium is particularly found in solid protein-rich foods: meat (liver, kidney), fish (carp, tuna, sardines, herring), cereal products, sesame, milk, eggs, vegetables and nuts.

Selenium is found in practically all tissues in our body. We need tiny amounts for our metabolism: for our daily needs, we recommend consuming around 30-70 μg (= micrograms/millionth of a gram) through food.

Selenium is essential in many areas of the body. It protects the skin from UV radiation and can prevent premature cell aging.

It reduces the oxidative StressThe enzyme glutathione peroxidase, which contains selenium, promotes the conversion of free radicals into harmless derivatives. Free radicals are chemically very reactive molecules that damage DNA and are considered carcinogenic. As a component of numerous enzymes, selenium helps to detoxify the body.

The enzyme thyroxine-5-deiodinase also contains selenium and is involved in the activation of thyroid hormones within the iodine metabolism: Thyroxine is converted into the more active triiodothyronine. If there is too little selenium, this leads to a deficiency in thyroxine-5'-deiodinase, so that only part of the available T4 can be deiodinated. Since T3 is much more effective in metabolism, the result is an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).

Causes of Selenium deficiency

Eating foods from soils that are low in selenium, eating a low-protein diet or an extremely one-sided diet can all contribute to a selenium deficiency. This means that not only people who live in areas that are low in selenium are at risk, but also pure vegans and patients who are dependent on artificial nutrition.

Other risk factors include: dialysis, starvation and bulimia or due to increased losses due to prolonged diarrhea, maldigestion or malabsorption (certain digestive disorders), laxative abuse (abuse of laxatives), proteinuria due to certain kidney diseases, nephrotic syndrome, a negative nitrogen balance, treatment with diuretics (water tablets), heavy bleeding due to hemorrhoids or heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged breastfeeding, severe injuries and burns.

consequences of selenium deficiency

A selenium deficiency reduces the function of selenium-dependent enzymes: numerous metabolic functions in the body are slowed down. Since these enzymes are found in almost all organs, the result is disorders of various organ systems and the entire organism.

The possible consequences of a deficiency are manifold: changes in the nails, flaky skin, anemia, reduced sperm quality, increased susceptibility to bacterial infections, liver necrosis and anemia.

Growth and bone formation disorders can also occur, with painful dysfunction and muscle diseases (myopathy). If the heart muscle is affected (cardiomyopathy, degenerative heart muscle changes), cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure and coronary heart disease (CHD). In children and adolescents, chronic selenium deficiency leads to diseases of bones, cartilage and joints, as well as dwarfism (Kaschin-Beck-Disease).

A selenium deficiency also promotes the development of various carcinomas (prostate, ovarian, colon, breast and lung cancer).

Selenium: Additional intake only after medical consultation

To prevent selenium deficiency, a daily intake of sufficient selenium from food is recommended. The intake of additional selenium depends on the underlying disease. In patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease in which the thyroid chronic inflammation, daily intake of high doses of selenium leads to a significant reduction in thyroperoxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab).

A selenium deficiency cannot be determined based on clinical signs. A blood test is necessary for this. The current supply situation is assessed by determining selenoprotein P in the blood. The selenium content in nails and hair provides information about the organism's long-term supply situation.

Since dietary supplements often contain very high doses of selenium, such preparations should only be taken after prior examination by the family doctor be taken.

If you add selenium to your diet, you may experience a selenium overdose or selenium poisoning. The production of thyroid hormones may be impaired or stop. Non-specific signs of too much selenium include digestive disorders, headaches, hair loss, increased susceptibility to caries, peripheral neuropathies (changes in the nerves) or Diabetes.