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