Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. This study of 668 elderly subjects shows that those with the lowest selenium levels had a 43% increased risk of death from all causes and a 56% increased risk of death from heart disease and stroke.
Selenium is a trace element found mostly in plant foods. It possesses significant antioxidant properties by increasing concentrations of glutathione and vitamin C mainly through the activity of what’s called “selenoproteins”. While selenium deficiency is classified as less than 70 nanograms/milliliter (0.8 micromoles/Liter), selenium toxicity occurs when blood levels exceed 1,000 ng/mL (12.7 micromol/L) (1).
Now a new study (2) highlights the importance of selenium to overall health, as low levels may predict risk of death in the elderly. The study involved 668 elderly subjects living in southeastern Sweden (319 men, 249 women). They provided blood samples and had EKG tests done over the course of 7 years.
The researchers found the average selenium blood levels to be 67.1 micrograms/Liter. Compared to those with the highest 25% of selenium blood levels (greater than 76.1 microgram/L), those with the lowest 25% of blood selenium levels (less than 57.2 micrograms/L) had a 43% increased risk of death from all causes (called “all-cause mortality”) (p = 0.04) and a 56% increased risk of death from a cardiovascular problem (heart disease, stroke) (p = 0.04).
These risks increased for smokers and diabetics with low selenium levels, with smokers experiencing a 96% increased risk of all-cause mortality (p = 0.001) and an 83% increased risk of cardiovascular death (p = 0.02). Diabetics had a 69% increased risk of all-cause mortality (p = 0.02) and a 77% increased risk of cardiovascular mortality (p = 0.007).
Citing selenium’s “central role in the defense against oxidative stress” as the biggest reason for these health benefits, the researchers concluded that “selenium supplementation should be recommended to persons with serum Se concentration below 57 micrograms/Liter.”
Source: Alehagen, Urban, et al. “Relatively high mortality risk in elderly Swedish subjects with low selenium status.” European journal of clinical nutrition 70.1 (2016): 91-96.
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Posted July 7, 2015.
Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY. You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com.
References:
- “Trace elements: Selenium” posted on the CDC website
- Alehagen U. Relatively high mortality risk in elderly Swedish subjects with low selenium status.Eur J Clin Nutr 2015 Jun 24. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2015.92. [Epub ahead of print]
