SELENIUM
- Category
- Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Pathogen, Blocks Excess Cytokines, Inhibits Long-Term Disease, Inhibits Long-Term Side Effects
SELENIUM
Selenium is one of the essential trace elements in the human body, playing a pivotal role in modulating the function of the immune system, maintaining redox homeostasis, and diminishing inflammatory cytokine cascade. Previously, we suggested several molecular mechanisms for the antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects of selenium supplementation, whereas both the immune boosting and the antioxidant effects of selenium are demonstrated in clinical studies. To date, there are several studies suggesting a relationship between selenium deficiency and chronic inflammatory diseases such as cardiovascular, subfertility, cancer, and viral infections.
Additionally, a considerable aspect of selenium supplementation is associated with mutations in RNA viruses. Prior studies on influenza and Coxsackie viruses have demonstrated that in selenium-depleted hosts, there is a much greater chance for viral genome mutation. This goes along with the recent dramatic health threats caused by new variants of SARS-CoV-2. Thus, it might be considered that keeping general population from becoming selenium deficient may prevent SARS-CoV-2 from further dangerous mutations.
Analysis of a cross-sectional study in Germany of 35 COVID-19 patients (171 serum samples) showed that circulating selenium and SELENOP concentrations increased in the discharge group (n = 29) during hospitalization and unlike deaths (n = 6), and generally the amount of selenium and SELENOP in serum was higher in discharged patients compared to deaths. These authors also investigated the circulating level of selenium and SELENOP in 35 patients (173 serum samples, discharges = 28, deaths = 7) in another study, and the results go along with each other. Another study conducted by the same research team on 33 COVID-19 patients suggested remarkably lower levels of serum selenium, SELENOP, and glutathione peroxidase-3 in deaths comparing to discharges. According to their results, COVID-19 patients showed a notable deficit in total selenium and SELENOP concentrations in comparison with reference data from a European survey on 1,915 adults.
Antiaging: A telomere is the end of a chromosome. Telomeres are made of repetitive sequences of non-coding DNA that protect the chromosome from damage. Each time a cell divides, the telomeres become shorter. Eventually, the telomeres become so short that the cell can no longer divide. This is how people get old. In a recent study Selenium increased telomere lengths which helps fight disease and aging.
In conclusion, most of the examined COVID-19 patients indicated a low selenium level. Selenium deficiency might be considered as an indicator for the severity, mortality, and overall risk of COVID-19. (Fakhrolmobasheri, 2021).
Reference:
(Fakhrolmobasheri, 2021). Fakhrolmobasheri M, Mazaheri-Tehrani S, Kieliszek M, et al. COVID-19 and Selenium Deficiency: a Systematic Review [published online ahead of print, 2021 Nov 5]. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2021;1-12. doi:10.1007/s12011-021-02997-4 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8569840/