Selenium Deficiency
Symptoms
High cholesterol levels.
Overview
Selenium deficiency is relatively rare in healthy well-nourished individuals.
Selenium deficiency in combination with Coxsackievirus infection can lead to Keshan disease, which is potentially fatal. Selenium deficiency also contributes (along with iodine deficiency) to Kashin-Beck disease. The primary symptom of Keshan disease is myocardial necrosis, leading to weakening of the heart. Kashin-Beck disease results in atrophy, degeneration and necrosis of cartilage tissue. Keshan disease also makes the body more susceptible to illness caused by other nutritional, biochemical, or infectious diseases.
Deficiency in selenium may lead to:
- Viral cardiomyopathy in young women and children
- Chronic osteoarthropathy in children
- Muscle tenderness and pain
Deficiency in Selenium may be more prevalent in people who are:
- Over 90 years old
- Undergoing kidney dialysis
- Living with HIV
- Undergoing total prenatal nutrition
- Suffering from severe intestinal disorders or compromised intestinal function
Selenium is also necessary for the conversion of the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4) into its more active counterpart, triiodothyronine.
Selenium, which is nutritionally essential for humans, is a constituent of more than two dozen selenoproteins that play critical roles in reproduction, thyroid hormone metabolism, DNA synthesis, and protection from oxidative damage and infection.
Selenium is a trace element that is included in between 50 and 100 different proteins in the body, which have multifarious roles, including building heart muscles and producing healthy sperm. It is considered to have high antioxidant potential.
High blood concentrations of selenium have been associated with a reduced risk of developing several cancers, including bladder and prostate cancer.
Coenzyme Q10 plays a vital role in the production of energy by mitochondria.