Selenium Usage

Though the reason us unknown, selenium has been known to help calm anxiety in some people.

Read more about Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Selenium.

There is some preliminary evidence that selenium supplements might provide some protection against some types of cancer among people living in the US, but this evidence is far from definitive.

Read more about Cervical Cancer and Selenium.

Though the reason us unknown, selenium has been known to help calm anxiety in some people.

Read more about Panic Disorder and Selenium.

Read more about Hypothyroidism and Selenium.

Preliminary studies hint that supplemental selenium may help prevent some forms of cancer ; ^{1 2 3 4 5} however, this evidence has a long way to go before it can be taken as reliable. ( See below .)

Selenium is required for a well-functioning immune system. ⁶ Based on this, selenium has been suggested as a treatment for people with HIV . Early studies showed little to no benefit. ⁷ A large trial reported in 2007 reported that use of selenium supplements reduced viral load. ⁸ However, this study suffered from numerous flaws in its statistical methods. For reasons that are not clear, another study found that selenium supplements decreased symptoms of psychological anxiety in patients undergoing highly active retroviral therapy (HAART). ⁹ One study of healthy people in the UK (where marginally low selenium intake is common) found that use of selenium supplements improved general immune function, as measured by response to poliovirus immunization. ¹⁰ A preliminary double-blind trial suggests that selenium supplements may improve fertility in males who are selenium deficient. ¹¹ Weak evidence suggests that selenium might be helpful for diabetic neuropathy . ¹² Selenium has also been recommended for many other conditions, including acne , anxiety , cataracts , cervical dysplasia , fibromyalgia , gout , multiple sclerosis , osteoarthritis , psoriasis , and ulcers , but there is no real evidence as yet that it is actually helpful.

A small study among nursing home residents found that low levels of the mineral selenium was associated with depression . Moreover, 8 weeks of supplementation tended to improve the mood of the most seriously depressed patients with low selenium levels. ¹³ The same was not true of the two other nutrients investigated, folate and vitamin C.

Current evidence regarding use of selenium for preventing heart disease is more negative than positive. ^{14 15 16 17 18} A large (about 500 participants) double-blind, placebo-controlled study failed to find that use of selenium supplements at 100 mcg, 200 mcg, or 300 mcg daily improved mood or general well-being . ¹⁹ A study of 197 people with moderately severe asthma failed to find benefit with selenium (100 mcg daily). ²⁰ Low selenium levels have been associated with increased likelihood of developing certain kinds of rheumatoid arthritis . ²¹ However, selenium supplements don'tappear to help rheumatoid arthritis once it has developed. ²² Despite hopes to the contrary, it does not appear that selenium supplements can help prevent type 2 diabetes , but rather might increasethe risk of developing the disease. ²³