Selenium - Health Benefits

10 min readEvidence-linked topicGreen Medicine Encyclopedia

Health Benefits of Selenium

 Most of Selenium''s Health Benefits are attributable to its incorporation into the Glutathione Peroxidase enzyme within the body.

Aging & Life Extension

 Selenium may possess Life Extension properties (due to its ability to increase the activity of Glutathione Peroxidase and Telomerase).  [1]

Cardiovascular System

 Anemia may occur as a result of Selenium deficiency.  [2]

 Selenium may alleviate the chest pain associated with Angina and Angina may occur as a result of Selenium deficiency.  [3]

 Selenium may help to prevent Atherosclerosis.  [4]

 Selenium may help to prevent abnormal Blood Clotting (by facilitating the production of Prostacyclin I2).  [5]

 Selenium deficiency may cause Cardiomyopathy:  [6]

 Dilated Cardiomyopathy may occur as a result of Selenium deficiency.  [7]

 Selenium may help to prevent many types of Cardiovascular Diseases.  [8]

 Selenium may protect against various types of Heart ailments:

 Selenium may help to prevent Heart Attack:  [9]

            Supplemental Selenium (100 mcg per day) has been strongly recommended as a means of preventing further (possibly lethal) Heart Attack in persons who have already experienced a Heart Attack.

 Selenium (50 - 100 mcg per day) may lower Blood Pressure in High Blood Pressure patients (by influencing the production of Prostaglandins and by preventing Cadmium from raising Blood Pressure).  [10]

 Selenium may help to prevent Preeclampsia.  [11]

 Keshan Disease occurs as a direct result of Selenium deficiency.

 Selenium may help to prevent Stroke.  [12]

Cells

 Selenium (Sodium Selenite form) may inhibit the age-related shortening of Telomeres (by increasing Telomerase activity).  [13]

Digestive System

 Crohn''s Disease patients commonly exhibit abnormally low Selenium levels.  [14]

 Selenium may inhibit the ability of Alcohol (ethanol) to damage the Gastric Mucosa.  [15]

 Selenium may be required for the proper function of the Pancreas. 

 Chronic Pancreatitis patients often have low blood Selenium levels (indicating that supplemental Selenium may prevent or alleviate Pancreatitis).  [16]

 Selenium may help to prevent Ulcerative Colitis and Ulcerative Colitis patients often have low serum Selenium levels.  [17]

Ears/Hearing

 Selenium (used in conjunction with Cod Liver Oil) may help to prevent Otitis Media.  [18]

Excretory System

 Selenium may be useful for the prevention/treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy.  [19]

 Selenium (combined with Vitamin E) may help to prevent Kidney Stones (by lowering elevated urinary excretion of Calcium and Oxalic Acid).  [20] 

Eyes/Vision

 Selenium (200 mcg per day or more) may help to prevent Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD).  [21]

 Selenium may help to prevent Cataracts (due to its role in the production of Glutathione Peroxidase, an endogenous Antioxidant that protects the Lens of the Eye from Cataracts):  [22]

 The Selenium content of Cataract-afflicted Lenses is only 15% of the level present in the Lenses of people not affected by Cataracts.

 Selenium may be useful for the treatment of Eyes - Dry.  [23]

 Selenium may improve the general health of the Eyes.  [24]

 Selenium may be useful for the treatment of Glaucoma.  [25]

 Selenium may be useful for the treatment of Short-Sightedness (Myopia).  [26]

Immune System

 Selenium - Immune System Health Benefits

Metabolism

 Selenium possesses Antioxidants properties (due to it being an essential component of Glutathione Peroxidase (an endogenous Antioxidant enzyme)):

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