Micronutrients & recovery
Adequate selenium intake is essential for optimal human health, primarily through its incorporation into selenoproteins, and deficiency is linked to increased risks of cancer, infection, male infertility, and neurologic conditions.
Ensure your diet provides adequate selenium, as it is crucial for thyroid function, immune health, and antioxidant defense. Good sources include Brazil nuts, seafood, and meat. Avoid high-dose supplementation unless advised by a doctor, as too much selenium can be toxic and cause oxidative damage. If you live in an area with selenium-poor soil, consider your dietary sources carefully.
Selenium is known primarily for its antioxidant activity and, in therapeutic aspects, for its chemopreventive, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties... Much of its beneficial influence on human health is attributed to its presence within at least 25 proteins... Moderate selenium deficiency has been linked to many conditions, such as increased cancer and infection risk, male infertility, decrease in immune and thyroid function, and several neurologic conditions, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Why this rating
The paper is a comprehensive review citing numerous studies, animal models, and clinical observations, though it notes that evidence for some specific conditions (e.g., Alzheimer's) is 'scant' or lacks consensus.
Source
From Selenium to Selenoproteins: Synthesis, Identity, and Their Role in Human Health
Laura V. Papp et al. · Antioxidants and Redox Signaling · 2007
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