Micronutrients & recovery
Selenium supplementation can reduce the risk of specific cancers (prostate, colorectal, lung) and improve immune function and cognitive health, but the benefits are highly dependent on baseline selenium status and the form of selenium used.
If you are considering selenium supplements for cancer prevention or immune support, get your selenium status tested first. If you are deficient, supplementation (100-200 mcg/day) may offer benefits, particularly for prostate and colorectal cancer risk. If you are already sufficient, the benefits are less clear, and you may be exposing yourself to unnecessary risks. Consult a healthcare provider to determine if supplementation is right for you.
Supplementation with 200 mg Se/d in a double-blind RCT (the NPC trial) gave a significant reduction in cancer mortality and in incidence of total cancer, prostate, colorectal and lung cancers... Se supplementation of UK adults with 100 mg Se/d for 15 weeks in a double-blind RCT significantly enhanced the cellular immune response... After adjustment for various confounding factors, a significantly increased risk of cognitive decline was found in French subjects aged 60 to 70 years from the EVA cohort with low plasma Se concentration at baseline.
Why this rating
The paper cites multiple RCTs and observational studies showing benefits, but also notes the complexity and lack of consensus on optimal dosing.
Source
Food-chain selenium and human health: emphasis on intake
Margaret P. Rayman · British Journal Of Nutrition · 2008
DOI 10.1017/s0007114508939830
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