Selenium may be best known as the active ingredient in some dandruff shampoos. As a nutritional supplement, the Office of Dietary Supplements reports that it is an effective antioxidant and potential preventer of prostate cancer, while studies reported in "The Lancet" have indicated that selenium deficiencies may be linked to heart health.
Heart Health
The medical journal "The Lancet" published a pair of articles in 2000 linking low selenium levels in the body to cardiac illness. Dr. Margaret Rayman's July 2000 article states that selenium deficiency has been "equivocal in linking selenium to cardiovascular disease risk." In September 2000, Dr. Michael J. Fryer supported Rayman's claims with evidence showing a link between long-term selenium deficiency and heart health.
Prevention of Prostate Cancer
The National Library of Medicine offers a grade of B to selenium's impact on prostate cancer. Studies have shown that men with low selenium levels and a normal prostate specific antigen, or PSA, level can reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer by taking selenium supplements. There is no evidence linking selenium as a therapy for prostate cancer or preventing a disease relapse.
Bladder Cancer Treatment
The National Institutes of Health's PubMed archive of journal articles lists dozens of studies on selenium's effect on cancer. One of the areas where selenium may have the biggest impact is the excretory system. "The Lancet Oncology" published a piece in 2006 that suggested linking selenium to the treatment of bladder cancer and encouraging further research to determine its efficacy.
Antioxidant and Immune Boosting
Selenium's main chemical component is gluthione peroxidase, a particularly strong antioxidant, according to the National Library of Medicine. Antioxidants assist the body's immune functions by neutralizing free radicals--rogue cells that compromise healthy blood cells and promote illness and aging in the body. In addition, the University of Maryland Medical Center writes that selenium lends itself to boosting white blood cell levels in the body, strengthening the body's ability to fight infections.
References
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Selenium Fact Sheet
- "The Lancet"; Selenium and Human Health; Michael J. Fryer; Sept. 9, 2000
- "The Lancet"; The Importance of Selenium to Human Health; Margaret P. Rayman; July 9, 2000
- National Institutes of Health Medline Plus: Selenium
- "The Lancet Oncology"; Use of Selenium in Chemoprevention of Bladder Cancer; Maree Brinkman et al; September 2006
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