Lack of selenium in the body – symptoms of deficiency

Selenium is an element that is supplied to the body in trace amounts, but it performs a wide range of functions. A poorly balanced diet can lead to selenium deficiency, which can have numerous health consequences. A regular and adequate supply of selenium, as with other minerals, can therefore ensure a longer and more comfortable life.

1. Properties of selenium
2. Sources and recommended intake of selenium
3. Symptoms of selenium deficiency

Properties of selenium

This microelement was discovered in the first half of the 19th century. It is a component of many proteins and enzymes that are important for health and is one of the regulators of metabolic processes. Its most well-known roles include participation in the functioning of the thyroid gland and the activity of the hormones it secretes.

It participates in shaping the body's antioxidant potential and is of great importance in protecting the cardiovascular and nervous systems, among others. Its biological functions are also important from the point of view of chemoprevention and the proper functioning of the immune system.

Sources and recommended intake of selenium

Although the human requirement for selenium is expressed in thousandths of a milligram, or micrograms (µg), its role in health cannot be overestimated. It is estimated that an adult needs 55 to even 90 µg of selenium per day, but pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as certain health conditions, can increase this requirement.

The richest dietary source of this element is Brazil nuts, 3-4 of which can satisfy up to 200% of the body's requirement. Other valuable sources include fish (especially tuna), seafood (including prawns), meat and offal, and eggs, while slightly smaller amounts are found in some dairy and cereal products. The content of this element in food depends on its content in the soil in a given region of the world, and in some places its regular supply to the body can be problematic.

Symptoms of selenium deficiency

It is estimated that selenium deficiency may affect up to one billion people worldwide. In some regions, top-down interventions have been undertaken in the past, involving free supplementation to prevent health disorders, one of the most severe of which is Keshan disease, leading to heart damage and dysfunction. Another disorder is Kashin-Beck disease, which in turn causes cartilage growth disorders in the body.

Symptoms of selenium deficiency in the body may include those characteristic of hypothyroidism, including weakness of the neuromuscular and immune systems, as well as mood and fertility disorders. Too low a supply of selenium can also result in increased susceptibility to heart disease and cancer.