Selenium occurs in humans, animals and some bacteria as an important trace element. It protects the body from attacks, binds heavy metals in the process and has an antioxidant effect. Selenium deficiency can have far-reaching consequences for the body in the long term.
What is selenium deficiency?
Throughout the body, selenium is present in various amounts. So especially in the tissues and organs. For example, the brain, heart, liver, kidneys and eyes contain larger amounts of selenium. But also the blood platelets and blood cells are supplied with selenium in higher doses. In the case of selenium deficiency, most of the available selenium in the body goes to the organs that support bodily functions. There is a redistribution of the trace element to, for example, the kidneys and the thyroid and pancreas. But the reproductive organs and the central nervous system also need a certain amount of selenium to function properly. Although it only occurs in small quantities in the body as a trace element in its entirety, it plays an important role in maintaining the body’s functions. It is said to have not only cell-protective and cancer-preventing but also uplifting and anti-inflammatory effects. Accordingly, deficiency symptoms trigger a reduction in the function of organ systems for which selenium is essential. The daily selenium requirement, which must be supplied through the diet, is between 30 and 70 micrograms for an adult.
Causes
The causes of selenium deficiency can vary widely. If food is predominantly obtained from selenium-poor soils or if forage animals are not adequately fed selenium-containing mineral mixtures, the body often cannot be supplied with a sufficient amount of selenium. People who eat a low-protein diet or who have an increased selenium requirement for various reasons are also affected. This is the case from a certain age. But smokers, kidney patients and cancer patients also need an increased amount of selenium. Likewise, a higher selenium intake is advisable in the case of a weakened immune system, since the trace element performs important functions in the area of immune defense. In addition, a reduced ability to absorb the trace element from food can be the cause of deficiency symptoms. The reason for this is usually physical complaints such as diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
Symptoms that indicate a selenium deficiency include white spots on the fingernails and pale, scaly skin. Often, the skin becomes thinner and hair color may lighten. Joint problems and male infertility may also occur. Symptomatology is often not very specific. Because of the wide range of roles that selenium plays in the human body, differentiation from other diseases is often difficult. The function of the immune system decreases in many cases, the body is weakened and the affected person often becomes ill more quickly. In this case, the body’s own defenses no longer function adequately. However, liver disorders, thyroid disease (hypofunction) and heart muscle disease have also been observed. Apart from this, a selenium deficiency in children can block growth and generally increase the incidence of tumor diseases.First occurring complaints can be fatigue, breathing difficulties, water retention (edema) and reduced performance. Apart from these, Keshan disease and Kashin-Beck disease have been associated with severe selenium deficiency. Keshan disease is a heart muscle disease, while Kaschin-Beck disease causes the body to regress joint cartilage. Some symptoms do not appear until vitamin E deficiency occurs at the same time, provided that selenium deficiency is low.
Diagnosis and course of the disease
If symptoms occur, it is advisable to consult a physician. Based on the symptoms and medical history, the physician may be able to make an initial assumption. After the physician has carried out a thorough complete examination, he will in most cases already be able to conclude on a deficiency symptom. The diagnosis is made by taking a blood sample, during which a laboratory can equally test for various deficiencies. A reduction in the amount of selenium in the blood supports the diagnosis. Together with the patient, the physician will discuss appropriate therapeutic measures.
Complications
Selenium deficiency leads to weakening of the entire body.In the thyroid gland, it can lead to hypofunction because selenium is needed for metabolism. If the level is too low, the metabolism in the whole body is throttled. Selenium also has a major impact on the body’s defenses and detoxification. If selenium levels are too low, the body tends to be more prone to bacterial infections and inflammation. However, the effects are even more far-reaching on the basis of white spots on the nails, thin hair or reduced sperm quality. Damage to the liver, nerves and muscles, as well as cardiovascular diseases are also conceivable. Sometimes it comes to the- favoring of various cancers in the breast, lung, intestine, ovaries or prostate. Headaches, tooth decay and digestive problems can also be caused by a selenium deficiency. During pregnancy, a selenium deficiency in the child can disturb growth. In animal studies, it has been shown that this results in more stillbirths. Pregnancy poisoning (preeclampsia) is often related to low selenium levels. This can lead to complications during the course of pregnancy and in the puerperium. Selenium is also important for mental well-being. People with anxiety, depression and great self-doubt often suffer from a selenium deficiency. A double-blind study demonstrated that subjects who received selenium supplements during the study had their moods brightened.
When should you see a doctor?
Mild selenium deficiency can be compensated by eating Brazil nuts, coconut, and eggs. Susceptibility to infection is a typical sign of severe selenium deficiency. Hair loss, dry skin and increasing muscle weakness may also occur. Men may experience infertility. If these symptoms are noticed, a doctor should be consulted. Selenium deficiency, if left untreated, can cause serious complications of the immune system and heart. Individuals who do not eat a balanced diet or suffer from a severe nutrient deficiency due to a medical condition should contact the appropriate physician if they experience the symptoms mentioned at the beginning of this article. Men suffering from infertility must consider selenium deficiency as a cause. Women and vegetarians or vegans have an increased risk of selenium deficiency. So do smokers, alcoholics and patients with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease. The physician can determine the condition by means of a blood test and prescribe suitable preparations. If possible, those affected should arrange for these measures to be taken in the early stages of a selenium deficiency. Increasing malaise and unusual skin or hair changes must be clarified in any case. Those affected are best advised to consult their family doctor or a dermatologist. In the case of a concrete suspicion, the internist is the right contact person. Those who fast regularly should have a routine check-up by their family doctor.
Treatment and therapy
Treatment of the deficiency depends primarily on its underlying cause. Therefore, the trigger must be addressed first and foremost. If the cause is inadequate dietary intake, for example, a change in diet is useful to replenish the necessary amount of selenium. Supplementation with selenium tablets is also possible, although the patient should strictly observe the prescribed intake amount here. An overdose of selenium is harmful and can cause poisoning. In the case of digestive diseases causing the deficiency, the disease must first be treated. If this is not possible, the affected person should also ensure sufficient intake of selenium through diet or appropriate preparations. Depending on the symptoms and diseases that have occurred, they must be treated. In some cases, for example in the case of degradation of joint cartilage, the patient and the physician must take precautions to alleviate the symptoms. Some of the diseases do not disappear even with sufficient selenium intake.
Prevention
In most cases, selenium deficiency can be prevented by eating a balanced and conscious diet. Affected persons who belong to the risk groups should consciously pay attention to sufficient selenium intake and, in the best case, also inform themselves about where the food comes from. In the case of meat and milk, for example, it is possible to ask the suppliers about the feedstuff of the feed animals. Nevertheless, people should never take preparations on suspicion, since selenium poisoning is just as harmful to the body as a deficiency.
Aftercare
Once the patient has suffered from an acute selenium deficiency, it can be assumed that he or she may suffer a deficiency again and again. This is especially true if the triggers have not been found. Has the patient been eating poorly? Does he have an increased selenium requirement? If so, is this due to an underlying chronic disease, a briefly weakened immune system, or because the patient is still smoking? The patient should ask himself these questions and, based on the answers found, try to avoid a future selenium deficiency during follow-up. Overall, however, the patient will benefit from switching to an organic diet and avoiding indulgent toxins. A healthy, vitamin-rich diet in particular ensures that the damage caused by the preceding selenium deficiency can be compensated and that the immune system can also regenerate. Sport is indispensable in this case, because it builds up the body as well as the patient’s psyche. People who do a lot of outdoor exercise activate their immune system and regulate their metabolism. This also combats the susceptibility to infections that previously accompanied the selenium deficiency. If the hair was also affected by the selenium deficiency, it takes a long time for the damage to be compensated for and for the hair that has fallen out to grow back again. Scaly skin, on the other hand, can be made supple again relatively quickly. Patients can seek advice here from a dermatologist.
This is what you can do yourself
A selenium deficiency without disease-related causes can be remedied with a diet tailored to it. Affected people should first find out about the nutrient composition of the soil in their area. If this contains very little selenium, the vegetables from fields located in the region will also have a low selenium content. Accordingly, as part of a balanced diet, residents must resort to other sources of selenium. To specifically raise selenium levels, it is generally recommended to increase the intake of animal protein, such as in lamb or beef offal, as well as seafood. Brazil nuts and some types of mushrooms, such as mushrooms, also have a particularly high selenium content. In the case of a vegetarian diet, affected persons can alternatively resort to plant products from regions with a high selenium content in the soil as well as cheese or eggs as selenium sources of animal origin. Other selenium-rich fish include tuna, salmon and cod. Once the body’s selenium stores have been replenished in this way, further focused nutrition or independent intake of selenium tablets should be avoided. Too much selenium consumption can otherwise lead to headaches, hair loss and other complaints. Whether medication is appropriate can be clarified by a visit to the doctor, which is advisable in case of doubt. If the selenium deficiency is due to another underlying disease, for example, medically prescribed mineral supplementation by means of tablets may be useful at times.
