Micronutrients & recovery
Higher habitual dietary selenium intake, as measured by toenail selenium levels, is associated with a lower incidence of type 2 diabetes in generally healthy U.S. adults.
Focus on maintaining adequate selenium levels through a balanced diet rather than high-dose supplements. This study suggests that higher natural selenium intake (reflected by toenail levels) is linked to a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. However, do not start high-dose selenium supplements, as clinical trials show they do not reduce diabetes risk and may have adverse effects. Consult your doctor for personalized advice, especially if you have existing health conditions.
At dietary levels of intake, individuals with higher toenail Se levels are at lower risk for T2DM.
Why this rating
Large prospective cohorts (NHS and HPFS) with long follow-up and objective biomarkers, though observational design limits causal inference.
Source
Toenail Selenium and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in U.S. Men and Women
Kyong Park et al. · Diabetes Care · 2012
DOI 10.2337/dc11-2136
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