Although selenium isn't one of the major minerals, it plays a role in a number of functions in your body, including thyroid function, preventing cell damage and synthesizing antibodies. The body only requires a small amount of selenium to function properly. Selenium is sometimes taken in supplement form to help with certain health conditions.
HIV
HIV is a virus that attacks your immune system and leads to AIDS. HIV viral load is an indicator of how much HIV is in your blood, while CD4 count helps determine how well your body is handling the disease. A lower CD4 count suggests that HIV is progressing in your body. Scientists at the University of Miami discovered that HIV patients taking 200 mcg of selenium daily for nine months experienced decreases in HIV viral load and improvements in CD4 count compared with those who had a placebo. The findings were reported in the January 2007 issue of the "Annals of Internal Medicine."
Dysglycemia
Dysglycemia refers to any disorder that impairs glucose metabolism in the body. This condition leads to high blood sugar levels that increase the risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. Researchers at Universite Montpellier in France discovered that men with the highest selenium levels were significantly less likely to develop dysglycemia compared with those with the lowest selenium levels. Researchers observed no significant relationship in women, according to research reported in the March 2010 issue of "Nutrition & Metabolism."
Bladder Cancer
Selenium may also be taken to prevent bladder cancer. Researchers at Dartmouth Medical School discovered that women and moderate smokers who had higher levels of selenium significantly reduced their risk for developing bladder cancer compared with those who had lower levels of the trace mineral. The research was published in the December 2008 issue of "Cancer Prevention Research."
Interactions
Selenium supplements may interfere with several medications, including anticoagulants, barbiturates and chemotherapy, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Consult your health care provider before taking selenium supplements.
References
- "Archives of Internal Medicine"; Suppression of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Viral Load With Selenium Supplementation; B.E. Hurwitz, et al.; January 2007
- "Nutrition and Metabolism"; Plasma Selenium and Risk of Dysglycemia in an Elderly French Population: Results from the Prospective Epidemiology of Vascular Ageing Study; T.N. Akbaraly, et al.; March 2010
- American Association for Cancer Research; Selenium May Prevent High Risk-Bladder Cancer; December 2008
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Selenium
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