Selenium

[Guest guest]

That is a very good article. Thanks

To those who believe, no explanation is necessary; to those who dont, no

explanation is possible

Re: [ ] selenium

I was just reading about Selenium and RA today. It suggests what you are

saying. Here is the URL:

http://www.thorne.com/media/Rheumatoid Arthritis.pdf

[ ] selenium

Does anyone know the correlation between Selenium deficiency and arthritis

pain? I have seen some stuff that indicates this. My labs just showed a

Selenium deficiency, and I have been in quite a bit of pain lately.

a-tbug5

To those who believe, no explanation is necessary; to those who dont, no

explanation is possible

[Guest guest]

Thanks. This sounds like what I have been reading.

To those who believe, no explanation is necessary; to those who dont, no

explanation is possible

[ ] Re: selenium

Hi , I googled " symptoms of selenium deficiency " and this is

what I found at

http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/sciences/lifescience/GeneralBiology/

Biochemistry/VitaminsMinerals/TraceMinerals/TraceMinerals.htm :

Selenium

Selenium is an essential nonmetallic element. Foods containing selenium

include meat, poultry, grains, and seafood. Some reports have suggested

that selenium may protect against certain types of cancer, but large

trials in humans are needed to support this. Selenium is important for

the function of several proteins. One of these is glutathione

peroxidase, an enzyme that prevents oxidative damage to cells from a

variety of peroxides. Selenium also appears to bind to some minerals

such as arsenic and mercury and decrease their toxicity.

Deficiency

Although selenium deficiency is uncommon in the United States, low

levels in the body may be associated with acute illness and prolonged

IV nutrition. Symptoms of selenium deficiency include muscle weakness

and pain, inflammation of the muscles, fragile red blood cells,

degeneration of the pancreas, and abnormal coloration. There have also

been associations of selenium deficiency with several diseases

affecting the heart muscle, but a protective effect against heart

disease has not been proven. In geographic areas where selenium is

deficient in the soil and therefore in food, human deficiencies have

been reported to cause dilation of the heart and congestive heart

failure.

Toxicity

Side effects with high doses of selenium supplements include hair and

nail loss, skin lesions, fatigue, irritability, liver and kidney

damage, nausea, vomiting and abnormal blood clotting. Animals in the

west grazing on plants that have accumulated selenium show acute or

chronis selenium poisoning. Chronic selenium toxicity (alkaline

disease) is characterised by muscle degeneration, rough coat, labored

breathing and cardiovascular failure. Acute selenium toxicity (blind

staggers) manifests as weight loss, anorexia, excessive salivation,

jaundice or necrosis of the heart and liver.

For cancer prevention, a typical dose of selenium is 200 micrograms per

day. The RDA for women over 19 years is 55 micrograms; for pregnant

women, 65 micrograms; for lactating women, 75 micrograms; and for men

over 19 years, 70 micrograms.

Hope this helps...........Doreen

>

>

> Does anyone know the correlation between Selenium deficiency and

> arthritis pain? I have seen some stuff that indicates this. My labs

> just showed a Selenium deficiency, and I have been in quite a bit of

> pain lately.

>

> a-tbug5

> To those who believe, no explanation is necessary; to those who

> dont, no explanation is possible

>

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

The New Disease Fighter: Selenium

Our contributing medical editor, L. Rubman, ND, has been vocal about his enthusiasm for the trace element selenium for years -- including defending this important antioxidant mineral against research that seemed (wrongly, in his view) to link it to diabetes. Along with others, he was unsurprised by new research showing it to be valuable in the fight against assorted cancers including lung, colon and prostate. Beyond cancer, studies show that selenium also appears to stimulate the immune response in general and contributes to the health of the thyroid gland.

There’s still lots to learn about selenium, but we do know it’s complicated. To find out more about what these research findings mean to you, I called selenium expert n Spallholz, PhD, professor in the department of food and nutrition at Texas Technology University (Lubbock). He affirmed that selenium is vitally important as a cofactor both for antioxidant enzymes and in 25 vital human proteins that cannot function without it. Though the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for adults is 55 mcg/day, whether or not an individual gets enough from dietary sources depends on how much selenium normally exists in the soil in your region and/or where your food (plant- and animal-based) originates. Parts of the US and much of Europe are known to have low levels of selenium, while other areas -- notably the Midwest and Western states, including Colorado, Texas, Nebraska, Utah, Montana and Northern Arizona -- have more. (Note: A selenium country-wide map can be found at http://tin.er.usgs.gov/geochem/doc/averages/se/usa.html.)

While symptoms of selenium deficiency are up for debate (possibly including muscle weakness, and immune, digestive and respiratory disorders) what’s known for sure is that severe deficiency causes several terrible diseases. In particular, in regions of Asia, where the levels of dietary selenium are as low as 10 mcg a day or less, people may be affected by Keshan disease, which harms the heart, and Kashin-Beck disease, which attacks the joints.

Advice on supplementation is far from simple -- it’s not as easy as taking a daily pill and being done with it. Taking too much can be dangerous, though Dr. Spallholz said that the 200 mcg/day used in studies is considered well within the safe range. Even in the same region, different people will have different requirements. Dr. Rubman told me that while he often prescribes selenium to his patients for a variety of symptoms, he always adjusts dosage and duration for each patient individually.

SELENIUM BENEFITS

A believer in the immune-boosting qualities of selenium, Dr. Rubman has used it to fight skin lesions in a teenage boy caused by the resistant bacterium MRSA. Suspecting a selenium deficiency, in part because of his tendency toward dry skin and dandruff (possible indications of low levels), Dr. Rubman prescribed a liquid form (selenious acid) to be taken orally, along with other supplements to maximize his immune functions, along with a topical form of selenium. Symptoms improved in days and within a few months the lesions were gone.

Even the toxicity of selenium has a useful aspect -- Dr. Spallholz told me that he’s been involved in development of several drugs using it as an experimental coating to prevent bacteria from growing on orthodontic braces and bands. It’s easy to see it might also have the potential to protect hospital catheters from bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant ones, as well.

Going forward, I believe that we will be hearing much more about selenium as a cancer-fighting and immune-boosting nutrient. In the meantime, both Dr. Spallholz and Dr. Rubman advise taking a high-quality multivitamin that contains selenium. Dietary selenium is available through grains grown in selenium-rich soil and also from Brazil nuts, as well as from seafood and animal products, including eggs and dairy. That advice, at least, is easy enough to understand and the health benefits that may follow make it well worth doing, in my view.

Source(s):

n Spallholz, PhD, professor in the RHIM Department, Nutritional Sciences division at Texas Technology University, Lubbock.

L. Rubman, ND, medical director, Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines, Southbury, Connecticut. www.naturopath.org.

Suzi

List Owner

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What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.

[Guest guest]

,

It helps with keeping antibodies down. It may help with conversion but I never

noticed that it did. It did keep my antibodies down because I went off of it

for several months and they went up.

Venizia

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> Does anyone have any experience with selenium tablets?

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> Does selenium improve T4 - T3 conversion?

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> Ciozda

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[Guest guest]

Something else that is good is evening primrose oil. I've been on selenium and

EPO since July 2009 when I had my TT, and it was suggested by my endo. She did

tell me that unfortunately, like me, with a TT, my antibodies will either stay

the same or get just a little bit lower, but they are always there, although

subsided. Comparable to someone who has had mono (Epstein Barr Virus). Those

titers are always in your blood.

________________________________

From: venizia1948 <nelsonck@...>

hypothyroidism

Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 4:46:28 PM

Subject: Re: Selenium

,

It helps with keeping antibodies down. It may help with conversion but I never

noticed that it did. It did keep my antibodies down because I went off of it

for several months and they went up.

Venizia

>

> Does anyone have any experience with selenium tablets?

>

> Does selenium improve T4 - T3 conversion?

>

>

>

> Ciozda

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

If you don't mind me asking, how does selenium & EPO help hypothyroid patients?

 

Thanks, Vicki

From: Kitzmiller <legalsecretary2007@...>

Subject: Re: Re: Selenium

hypothyroidism

Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 7:09 PM

 

Something else that is good is evening primrose oil. I've been on selenium and

EPO since July 2009 when I had my TT, and it was suggested by my endo. She did

tell me that unfortunately, like me, with a TT, my antibodies will either stay

the same or get just a little bit lower, but they are always there, although

subsided. Comparable to someone who has had mono (Epstein Barr Virus). Those

titers are always in your blood.

____________ _________ _________ __

From: venizia1948 <nelsoncksbcglobal (DOT) net>

hypothyroidism

Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 4:46:28 PM

Subject: Re: Selenium

,

It helps with keeping antibodies down. It may help with conversion but I never

noticed that it did. It did keep my antibodies down because I went off of it for

several months and they went up.

Venizia

>

> Does anyone have any experience with selenium tablets?

>

> Does selenium improve T4 - T3 conversion?

>

>

>

> Ciozda

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>