Research
Micronutrients & recovery
Selenium deficiency is causally linked to Keshan disease (endemic cardiomyopathy) and potentially Kashin-Beck disease (osteoarthropathy), particularly in regions with low soil selenium.
If you live in a region known for low soil selenium (like parts of China or the UK), ensuring adequate selenium intake through diet or targeted supplementation may be crucial to prevent specific deficiency-related diseases like Keshan disease.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Selenium toxicity and links between deficiency and Keshan disease and Kashin-Beck disease are described.
Why this rating
The link is well-established in the literature reviewed, though the paper notes gaps in understanding some mechanisms.
Source
Selenium in Human Health and Disease
Susan J. Fairweather‐Tait et al. · Antioxidants and Redox Signaling · 2010
DOI 10.1089/ars.2010.3275
narrative_reviewCited 1,289×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- 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.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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