Micronutrients & recovery
Selenium may protect against the toxic effects of mercury and reduce cardiovascular risk through antioxidant mechanisms, but current human evidence for selenium supplementation preventing CHD is inconsistent and insufficient to draw firm conclusions.
Do not take selenium supplements specifically for heart disease prevention based on current evidence. Instead, include selenium-rich foods (like fish, eggs, or meat) in your diet, as they may offer protective benefits against mercury and support antioxidant systems, though the exact CVD benefit is not yet proven.
Selenium protects against mercury toxicity in rats, mice, and quail ... Epidemiologic studies indirectly support a possible protective effect of selenium intake on cardiovascular toxicity of mercury ... an American Heart Association Science Advisory in 1999 concluded that 'little information is available on the preventive effects of [selenium] in human populations'
Why this rating
Animal studies show clear mechanisms, but human observational and trial data are inconsistent, with meta-analyses showing mixed results and no firm conclusions.
Source
Fish, Mercury, Selenium and Cardiovascular Risk: Current Evidence and Unanswered Questions
Dariush Mozaffarian · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 2009
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