#26 Selenium Deficiency Symptoms & Early Warning Signs (+ What to do Next)
This video is all about selenium deficiency, how it presents, what to do about it and how to know if you are overdosing on selenium supplements.
First off:
Why is selenium important?
Selenium plays an important role in regulating several key enzymes in your body.
These enzymes control the production of thyroid hormones, glutathione, and even your metabolism.
If you don't have enough selenium in your body then these enzymes may not function properly which may cause certain and specific symptoms.
The warning signs of selenium deficiency include:
1. Hair loss
- Selenium (along with other nutrients) helps your hair grow. A lack of selenium may trigger hair loss or alopecia. Just realize that other nutrients, including iron, are also important for hair growth so not all causes of hair loss are necessarily caused by selenium deficiency.
2. Thyroid dysfunction
- Selenium forms the backbone of a group of enzymes known as the deiodinases. These enzymes help to metabolize and either activate or inactive thyroid hormone in your body. A lack of selenium may impact these enzymes and lead to problems such as hypothyroidism.
3. Weakened immune system
- Selenium plays an important role in immune system regulation and helps to prevent you from getting sick and developing autoimmune disease. A lack of selenium may predispose you to develop an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis (or others) and can even be used to help treat these diseases.
4. Fatigue
- It's not clear exactly how selenium deficiency causes fatigue but it may have to do with how it influences both your thyroid and your mitochondria. We do know, however, that some groups of patients benefit from increased energy when using selenium.
5. Low serum thyroid lab tests
- This is an extension of #2. Selenium deficiency can impact the absolute levels of thyroid hormone (especially T3) in your body and this can be measured through routine thyroid lab tests.
6. Iron dysregulation
- Selenium impacts how your body regulates and metabolizes iron and a deficiency has been associated with both low and high iron levels.
7. Other mineral deficiencies
- Selenium deficiency can exacerbate other minerals and may lead to other symptoms. It's probably more likely that whatever condition caused low selenium in your body also is leading to other deficiencies in minerals such as magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, and copper. Just be sure to look for these minerals if you have low selenium as well!
8. Muscle pain
- With low selenium, you may also develop muscle pain or fatigue. This is because selenium helps produce energy and low energy (or ATP) may predispose you to develop muscle pain.
If you have any of these symptoms then you can use selenium supplements to help treat your deficiency.
Using around 50 to 150mcg per day of Selenium is a safe dose. The maximum dose you should use would be up to 400mcg per day.
Most people are fine on lower doses as long as they actively try to consume other foods high in selenium as well.
Signs of selenium overdose or toxicity may include:
- Worsening hair loss
- Brittle fingernails or fingernail damage
- Nausea or vomiting
- Memory difficulties
If you experience any of these symptoms then that may be a sign you are taking too much. You can cut back on your dose to help reduce the symptoms or even skip a few days.
You can learn more about high-quality supplements that I create (and personally use) here:
https://www.restartmed.com/shop/
More information, including links to literary studies, in the video and the full blog post, can be found here:
https://www.restartmed.com/selenium-deficiency/
First off:
Why is selenium important?
Selenium plays an important role in regulating several key enzymes in your body.
These enzymes control the production of thyroid hormones, glutathione, and even your metabolism.
If you don't have enough selenium in your body then these enzymes may not function properly which may cause certain and specific symptoms.
The warning signs of selenium deficiency include:
1. Hair loss
- Selenium (along with other nutrients) helps your hair grow. A lack of selenium may trigger hair loss or alopecia. Just realize that other nutrients, including iron, are also important for hair growth so not all causes of hair loss are necessarily caused by selenium deficiency.
2. Thyroid dysfunction
- Selenium forms the backbone of a group of enzymes known as the deiodinases. These enzymes help to metabolize and either activate or inactive thyroid hormone in your body. A lack of selenium may impact these enzymes and lead to problems such as hypothyroidism.
3. Weakened immune system
- Selenium plays an important role in immune system regulation and helps to prevent you from getting sick and developing autoimmune disease. A lack of selenium may predispose you to develop an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis (or others) and can even be used to help treat these diseases.
4. Fatigue
- It's not clear exactly how selenium deficiency causes fatigue but it may have to do with how it influences both your thyroid and your mitochondria. We do know, however, that some groups of patients benefit from increased energy when using selenium.
5. Low serum thyroid lab tests
- This is an extension of #2. Selenium deficiency can impact the absolute levels of thyroid hormone (especially T3) in your body and this can be measured through routine thyroid lab tests.
6. Iron dysregulation
- Selenium impacts how your body regulates and metabolizes iron and a deficiency has been associated with both low and high iron levels.
7. Other mineral deficiencies
- Selenium deficiency can exacerbate other minerals and may lead to other symptoms. It's probably more likely that whatever condition caused low selenium in your body also is leading to other deficiencies in minerals such as magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, and copper. Just be sure to look for these minerals if you have low selenium as well!
8. Muscle pain
- With low selenium, you may also develop muscle pain or fatigue. This is because selenium helps produce energy and low energy (or ATP) may predispose you to develop muscle pain.
If you have any of these symptoms then you can use selenium supplements to help treat your deficiency.
Using around 50 to 150mcg per day of Selenium is a safe dose. The maximum dose you should use would be up to 400mcg per day.
Most people are fine on lower doses as long as they actively try to consume other foods high in selenium as well.
Signs of selenium overdose or toxicity may include:
- Worsening hair loss
- Brittle fingernails or fingernail damage
- Nausea or vomiting
- Memory difficulties
If you experience any of these symptoms then that may be a sign you are taking too much. You can cut back on your dose to help reduce the symptoms or even skip a few days.
You can learn more about high-quality supplements that I create (and personally use) here:
https://www.restartmed.com/shop/
More information, including links to literary studies, in the video and the full blog post, can be found here:
https://www.restartmed.com/selenium-deficiency/
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