Selenium: Deficiency Symptoms

A blood selenium concentration below 80-95 µg/L (1.0-1.2µmol/L) suboptimal selenium status leads to impaired enzyme activity of glutathione peroxidases (GPx) and selenoprotein P activity

At selenium intakes of less than 20 µg per day, clinical symptoms include.

  • Macrocytosis
  • Pseudoalbinism
  • Striped fingernails
  • Cardio and skeletal myopathies (can be severe enough to limit walking ability)

Typical selenium deficiency symptoms include.

  • Anemia
  • Impaired spermatogenesis (spermatogenesis).
  • Growth and bone formation disorders
  • Impairment of the immune system low immune defenses, increased susceptibility to germs, chronic infections and inflammation.

Keshan disease (endemic cardiomyopathy).

  • Especially in children and young women
  • However, this disease cannot be called a clear selenium-deficiency disease because, in addition to selenium deficiency, Coxackie virus infection is important in the development of the disease

Kashin-Beck disease (an osteoathropathy).

  • In addition to a selenium deficiency, the causes of the development of this disease are iodine deficiency, the consumption of cereals contaminated with mycotoxin-producing fungi and drinking water contaminated with organic substances and fulvic acid in discussion
  • According to the latest findings, not selenium supplementation, but the administration of iodine improved the condition of patients
  • Occurs mainly in early adolescence and leads to deformities of the limb joints