Nutrients – Selenium

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Selenium
OverviewSelenium deficiency for those of usliving in the United States is generally rare. I suggest reading myblog on selenium linked here. Excess selenium can indeed cause moreharm than good so please be careful with selenium. Use this US mapfor determining if the food you eat comes from an area that isselenium deficient.
Selenium is an essential trace mineralfound in small amounts in our body. Selenium plays a part in thyroidfunction and our immune system needs selenium to work properly. There are many other areas where selenium is maybe playing a role,but scientists have not determined the cause-effect in these areas. Even another area that needs more investigation is the finding thatpeople that used selenium supplements of less than 200 mcg per dayfor more than seven years were at a significantly higher risk fordeveloping type 2 diabetes.
Because of this and the number ofmedications that may be conflicting with selenium, it is stronglyurged that people only take selenium supplements under thesupervision of a doctor knowledgeable in selenium.
Potential for DeficiencyIf you are healthy and eat awell-balanced diet, you should get enough selenium. You may have lowlevels of selenium if you:

• Smoke cigarettes
• Drink alcohol
• Take birth control pills
• Have a condition that preventsyour body from absorbing enough selenium such as Crohn's disease orulcerative colitis

TestsTrace mineral testing is usuallyperformed on a blood sample. Sometimes a 24-hour urine collection isobtained. Special metal-free blood or acid-washed urine containersare used to minimize the potential for sample contamination by anyoutside sources of minerals.
Blood and urine reflect recent mineralintake. Rarely, hair may be collected or a biopsy may be performed toobtain a tissue sample to evaluate mineral deficiencies, excesses,and storage that have occurred over time.
Recommended Daily AllowanceThe minimum daily recommended dietaryallowances (RDA) for selenium are listed below.Pediatric Children 1 - 3 years: 20 mcg Children 4 - 8 years: 30 mcg Children 9 - 13: 40 mcg Children 14 - 18: 55 mcgAdult 19 and older: 55 mcg Pregnant women: 60 mcg Breastfeeding women: 70 mcgAs a supplement: Some studieshave used 200 mcg per day for some conditions, but evidence suggeststhat taking that amount over a long time could increase your risk ofdeveloping diabetes. Talk to your doctor before taking more than therecommended daily allowance.
Food SourcesDietary sources include the following: brewer's yeast and wheat germ, liver, butter, fish (mackerel, tuna,halibut, flounder, herring, smelts) and shellfish (oysters, scallops,and lobster), garlic, whole grains, sunflower seeds, and Brazil nutsare all good sources of selenium.
Selenium levels in food depend on wherethe food was grown. Selenium is destroyed when foods are refined orprocessed. Eating a variety of whole, unprocessed foods is the bestway to get selenium in your diet.
Available Forms:Selenium may be taken as part of avitamin-mineral supplement, a nutritional antioxidant formula, or asa separate supplement. Most supplements contain a form of seleniumcalled selenomethionine.
PrecautionsThere is a health risk of too muchselenium. This happens when high blood levels become greater than100 mcg/dl (micrograms per deciliter). This may result in acondition called selenosis. Selenosis symptoms include hair loss,white blotchy nails, gastrointestinal upset, garlic breath, fatigue,irritability, and mild nerve damage. In the USA, selenium toxicityis rare.
The Institute of Medicine of theNational Academy of Sciences has set a tolerable upper intake level(UL) for selenium. Tolerable upper intake levels for selenium forinfants, children, and adults to prevent selenosis is provided in thefollowing table:

Age	Males and Females (mcg/day)
0–6 months	45
7–12 months	60
1–3 years	90
4–8 years	150
9–13 years	280
14–18 years	400
19+ years	400

Possible InteractionsThere are many interactions that areknown for selenium and some will lessen the effectiveness of themedications. Therefore, it is important that if you are having anyof the following that you discuss this with a doctor knowledgeableabout selenium. The list of medication conflicts is extensive and Iurge you to read this. The areas that you need to be aware ofinclude – cancer, chemotherapy, cholesterol-lowering medications,birth control pills, and gold salts.
Please read this if you have arthritis. Selenium does work with and supports iodine in the thyroid function.