Sodium Selenate 200 mcg x 100 capsules

Selenium-containing antioxidant enzymes — such as the glutathione peroxidases (GPx) — help to rid the body of destructive peroxide and superoxide molecules by converting them to water and alcohol. GPx enzymes are found in thyroid tissue and in many other parts of the body — for example, the pancreas, testes, pituitary, eyes, and skin, as well as other tissues.² Selenium deficiencies, and the resulting GPx shortages, therefore cause oxidative damage throughout the body.

Causes of selenium deficiencies

Selenium deficiencies can be caused by insufficient selenium in the diet or by poor absorption in the digestive tract. Dietary deficiencies are less common than they used to be — thanks to supplementation — but absorption-related deficiencies are widespread. Poor selenium absorption may be caused by a number of medical conditions:³

• celiac disease
• Crohn’s disease
• cystic fibrosis
• pancreatic insufficiency
• biliary atresia
• liver disorders
• cholestasis
• the use of certain drugs.

Consequences of inadequate selenium in the body

Seleno-proteins are so important to the body’s well-being that low selenium status is a risk factor for many diseases.³ Ailments that have been linked to low selenium levels include:

• aging due to peroxide damage⁴ or to telomere shortening⁵
• age-related decline in performing mental tasks⁶
• Buerger’s Disease (a serious vascular inflammation caused by tobacco)⁷
• celiac disease ³
• autoimmune thyroid diseases ³
• intestinal damage³
• infertility in males²
• degeneration of ovaries²
• cancer of the prostate², digestive tract^2,8,15, breast⁹, and lung^2,10
• weakened bones²
• impaired bone metabolism, growth retardation²
• osteoarthritis²
• reduced immunity and UV protection in skin²
• cardiovascular problems, thrombosis, and atherosclerosis²
• Alzheimer’s¹¹ and other neurological diseases¹⁷
• muscle pain, fatigue, proximal weakness¹²
• febrile seizures¹³
• some forms of mastitis²
• progression of HIV infection¹⁶
• other infections²

An excellent review of the role and importance of selenium in the diet is the one by Stazi and Trinti (see page 392 of the reference).³

Let us look at two of these selenium deficiency problems.

Celiac disease

Celiac Disease is an inflammatory, auto-immune condition characterized by the inability to tolerate the protein gluten (found in grains such as wheat, oats, rye, and barley).¹⁴ People who have a genetic predisposition to the ailment, and whose diet includes gluten, experience effects ranging from fatigue to permanent damage to the intestine, thyroid, and other organs. Such damage can even trigger the formation of cancer tumors. When intestinal damage occurs, the absorption of food, vitamins and minerals is impaired. This leads to various deficiencies, including selenium deficiencies. A shortage of selenium exacerbates the inflammation and also allows the thyroid gland to be damaged by peroxides.³ Small wonder that celiac disease can be fatal.

While the proper treatment for this disease is a gluten-free diet, much of the disease’s secondary damage may be avoided if supplementary selenium is administered early enough.³

Thyroid ailments

Thyroid hormone synthesis requires continuous production of hydrogen peroxide.² When allowed to run free, this highly destructive substance does serious damage to the body. But the body has an appropriate defense: antioxidative enzymes, including the GPx (glutathione peroxidase) enzymes. GPx enzymes require selenium as part of their structure. Without adequate supplies of selenium, the body fails to make enough GPx to control the peroxide, the peroxide escapes and does damage to nearly everything it touches — particularly to the tissue of the thyroid gland itself. The resulting thyroid malfunctions can lead to various diseases.

Such thyroid problems are easy to avoid. As Stazi and Trinti state in their review, “… an adequate selenium intake is needed to maximize the activity of gluathione peroxidase (GPx) and other selenoproteins.”³

Dosage

Selenium intake should typically be in the range of 55 to 400 mcg per day.³ This translates to 132 to 957 mcg/day of selenium selenate. Both excess and deficiency of selenium can cause impaired growth.^2,8 Amounts greater than 800 mcg/day of selenium (1914 mcg/day of sodium selenate), if consumed routinely, may lead to undesirable side effects, such as impaired growth of hair, fingernails, and other fast-growing tissues.⁸