Selenium is a trace element found in certain foods and plants. Your body incorporates selenium into proteins to make selenoproteins, the important antioxidant enzymes that help prevent cell damage from free radicals. The verdict is not in on whether selenium can help prevent cancer, manage thyroid function and protect against viral infections and Candida yeast overgrowth. You can, however, determine which foods contain selenium and how much of it your body needs.
Yeast Infections
Candida albicans is a fungus that enters your body as an infant. The amount of Candida in your body varies, depending on fluctuating hormones as well as a variety of other factors like antibiotic use. A yeast infection can occur when your body experiences a Candida overgrowth. Both men and women experience yeast infections, most commonly in warm, moist areas of the body like the underarms, the mouth and the vaginal area. Symptoms include pain, irritation and itchiness.
Selenium Supplements
Because selenium supplements contain selenium in different chemical forms depending on the product, it is important to read labels carefully and know what to look for. Many manufacturers list selenium as selenomethionine. In multivitamins, infant formulas, protein mixes and weight-loss products, selenium goes by the name sodium selenite or sodium selenate. From the age of 14, both males and females require 55 micrograms per day of selenium. Pregnant women require 60 micrograms, and women who are breast-feeding require 70 micrograms, according to the Linus Pauling Institute.
Foods with Selenium
Organ meats, seafood and muscle meats are rich in selenium. The amount of selenium in grains and plants varies, based on the amount of selenium found in the soil. In the United States, grains are a good source of selenium, but fruits and vegetables are not.
Mixed Verdict
The last major study to look at the relationship between Candida and selenium appeared in a 1986 edition of the "Journal of Nutrition." Titled "The Response of Selenium-Deficient Mice to Candida Albicans Infection," researchers R. Boyne and J.R. Arthur of the Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen, Scotland, concluded that selenium deficiency impaired the ability of mice to kill Candidas albicans. Since then, research appears to focus on other areas like selenium's role in thyroid functioning or cancer prevention. MedlinePlus, a website operated through the federal National Institutes of Health, for example, does not even make mention of Candida when listing the possible ways in which selenium may help. Furthermore, too much selenium may cause health problems, according to Joy Johnston, a writer with "The Atlanta Constitution." Johnston refers to two separate studies suggesting links between excess selenium and diabetes, and elevated LDL or "bad" cholesterol and triglycerides.
References
- Longevity Institute: Newsletter 9: Selenium; August 2008
- Linus Pauling Institute: Selenium
- "Journal of Nutrition"; The Response of Selenium-Deficient Mice to Candida Albicans Infections; R. Boyne and J.R. Arthur; May 1, 1986 (PDF)
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Selenium
- MedlinePlus: Selenium
- "Atlanta Journal Constitution"; Ask Dr. H: Extra Selenium Not Recommended; Joy Johnston; Dec. 29, 2009
