Micronutrients & recovery
Selenium status is a critical determinant of health outcomes, with deficiency linked to specific diseases (Keshan, Kashin-Beck) and toxicity causing adverse effects, while optimal intake supports antioxidant defense and thyroid function.
Selenium is essential for health, particularly for antioxidant defense and thyroid function. However, because the margin between beneficial and toxic intake is narrow, you should prioritize obtaining selenium from food sources (meat, fish, eggs, cereals) rather than high-dose supplements unless advised by a doctor based on your specific status or geographic location (e.g., low-selenium soil regions).
There is a relatively narrow margin between selenium intakes that result in deficiency or toxicity, with health effects being related to level of exposure and selenium status.
Why this rating
This is a comprehensive invited review citing numerous studies, though it notes gaps in knowledge regarding specific mechanisms for many selenoproteins.
Source
Selenium in Human Health and Disease
Susan J. Fairweather‐Tait et al. · Antioxidants and Redox Signaling · 2010
DOI 10.1089/ars.2010.3275
More from this paper
- Selenium deficiency is causally linked to Keshan disease (endemic cardiomyopathy) and potentially Kashin-Beck disease (osteoarthropathy), particularly in regions with low soil selenium.Good
- Selenium supplementation may offer protective effects against certain cancers (particularly prostate and gastrointestinal) and improve male fertility, but results are complex and depend on baseline status and genotype.Moderate
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