Your body relies on a range of nutrients to perform vital tasks, including the trace element selenium. You only need a very small amount of selenium each day to ensure proper bodily functions, and while selenium excesses or deficiencies can cause health problems, these problems are very rare in the United States.
Selenium
Selenium is a mineral that occurs naturally in the earth and that is absorbed by plants and animals that people eat. Selenium is necessary for your body's ability to create selenoproteins, an antioxidant enzyme, according to the National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements. Selenium is found in foods such as nuts, fish, meat and a wide range of plants that absorb it directly through the soil.
Selenium Amounts
As long as you get enough, but not too much, selenium your risks of developing problems because of the mineral are small. The Office of Dietary Supplements reports that the average adult needs 55mcg of selenium per day, while a pregnant woman needs 60mcg and a lactating woman needs 70mcg. A 3.5-oz. portion of beef, for example, contains 35mcg, so obtaining the daily amount isn't usually a problem if you eat a balanced diet.
Selenium Toxicity
Having too much selenium in your body, known as selenium poisoning or selenium toxicity, can be harmful to your health. The Office of Dietary Supplements states that excess selenium in your blood can lead to a medical condition known as selenosis, the symptoms for which include hair loss, white blotchy nails, digestive problems, a garlic odor to your breath, fatigue, irritability and mild neuropathy or nerve damage. Selenium toxicities in the United States are very rare; a few cases occurred as the result of industrial accidents and after a dietary supplement manufacturer mistakenly sold a product with high levels of selenium.
Interactions
There are also potential dangers if you take selenium supplements or dietary supplements that include selenium. Apart from selenium toxicity, selenium can negatively interact with medications you might be taking. MedlinePlus reports that selenium slows blood clotting, and people taking anticoagulant drugs should not take selenium supplements as it can lead to excessive bleeding and bruising. If you're taking any kind of prescription medication and are considering taking a selenium supplement, talk to your physician first.
Member Comments