Selenium Supplements: The Antioxidant You Need for Your Thyroid Health

The Power of Selenium - A Potent Antioxidant

The need for antioxidants occurs when the body produces free radicals from oxidative stress. The free radicals form as a result of hormonal production.

These free radicals damage cells and DNA, causing health issues.

Selenium has a crucial component called" Selenoproteins," a group of antioxidant proteins. Selenium does this job in different parts of your body's muscle tissue; the most significant portion is in the thyroid gland. 

These selenoproteins scoop out the free radicals and neutralise them before they harm the thyroid gland. The selenium-containing enzymes clear out the free radicals generated during thyroid hormone production and help in the balanced production of thyroid hormones. Selenium protects the thyroid hormone and the whole body's well-being.

Thus, selenium or selenoproteins have three excellent jobs to do in your thyroid gland -

• Thyroid hormone synthesis
• Metabolism
• Antioxidative function

Any selenium deficiency you have results in a decline in these functions.

Yet, you must check with your doctor before you run to get your dosage of selenium supplementation immediately.

You must note that anyone with adequate selenium in the thyroid gland does not need to supplement with selenium. If you take it even when you have an adequate level of selenium, then you tend to risk the formation of certain health conditions. 

Selenium - Deficiency and Toxicity

Your body does not make selenium, so food and supplementation are the only ways to get them. The amount of selenium in your body depends on your food and where you come from. 

So, you may be deficient in selenium. 

What conditions may you face with reduced or increased selenium in your body? 

Let's check it out;

Selenium Deficiency

• Hypothyroidism - Reduction in the production of thyroid hormones
• Weak immune system - You tend to fall sicker than usual with weakened immunity.
• Risk of Chronic diseases - Some severe health conditions such as cancers (Colorectal, lung) and heart diseases tend to increase.

Selenium Toxicity

• Gastric Disturbances - You may face disturbances like abdominal discomfort or pain, nausea, diarrhoea, etc.
• Nail and hair changes - Hair loss, brittle nails, skin rashes, etc.
• Neurological effects include fatigue, irritability, nerve tissue damage, and defects in normal sensation in the extremities.
• Thyroid dysfunction—Even though selenium benefits the thyroid gland, excess selenium harms normal functioning. It can cause issues like hyperthyroidism and an increased production of thyroid hormones.

What is the Right Dosage of Selenium Supplements?

The optimal blood selenium level is between 60 and 150 ng/mL. However, as mentioned above, the level changes according to age, gender, health status, and the area where you live ( you get most of the selenium from the soil).

Let's see what the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of Selenium is.

Individual requirements differ depending on specific health conditions, pregnancy, lactation, and other factors.

The maximum limit of selenium you may intake without causing any harm to your body is 400 micrograms per day. Any dosage beyond this will lead to toxicity.

"Maintaining a balanced diet is always advisable to obtain the perfect selenium level without supplementation."- Dr Shruti, Health Coach, Nirva

Types of Selenium Found Naturally

The two primary natural modes of selenium are;

Inorganic Selenium

• The selenium has less bioavailability (beneficial for the body's function) and has a higher level of toxicity.
• The selenium has limited absorption within the human body.
• This kind of selenium is not recommended for direct intake by humans.
• You find this selenium in soil and water compounds like selenite and selenate.

Phytoactive Selenium (Organic Selenium)

• Organic selenium, which bio-transforms within the body and synthesises specific selenoproteins, is found in plants.
• Even in high dosages, these compounds are not toxic to the body.
• When ingested, these bind to muscle protein and form a reservoir that is released based on one's body protein turnover rate. 

This difference is critical to you due to the difference in absorption and toxicity they give.

So before you grab any form of supplement of selenium, practise the following -

• Read the label 
• Check ingredients
• Read the manufacturer's information
• Certifications and seals
• Consult experts 

Pro Tip - 

• Labels show organic forms of selenium as selenomethionine or selenium-enriched yeast.You find it written as selenite or selenate in inorganic forms of selenium.

Selenium-Rich Foods - Your Thyroid Protecting Diet List

Find below what you can add to your diet to obtain selenium and how much to take.

Overcoming Nutritional Lack - Selenium Supplements

Supplements can come in handy when someone has specific dietary restrictions or lives in an area lacking selenium. 

Supplements benefit those with high levels of deficiency who cannot overcome the deficiency with nutritional diets.

Yet, you must take into account some considerations before you take those tablets or pills of selenium. They do not work just like a balanced diet rich in selenium, which you can easily have. You must take care of certain aspects of selenium supplements as follows ;

•  Dosage and Safety

You know now that an excessive intake of selenium leads to toxicity. So, as mentioned before, the upper limit of selenium intake per day is 400 micrograms in adults.

• Interactions With Health Conditions

If you take any medications or have any health conditions, it's best to talk to your GP. Selenium supplements interact especially with some autoimmune conditions, so you must be cautious before taking the pills.

• Balanced Intake

Even if you cannot obtain selenium through fresh food, consider taking nuts and seeds with your supplements. Let the supplements complement your diet, not replace it.

• Consider Individual Dosage

You must know that age, gender and even where you come from change your need for selenium. Get tested before you add the supplement to your intake list.

Always take supplementation under the guidance of an expert, or else there are chances of landing up with adverse reactions or toxicity.

Research Studies on Selenium Supplements - The Moment of Relief

• Selenium supplementation gives evidence of reduction of symptoms of hypothyroidism.
• Supplements have helped improve the quality of life and eye health outcomes in mild to moderate thyroid eye disease (Grave's orbitopathy). The progression of symptoms was also slower. The European Thyroid Association recommends six months of selenium supplementation for this health condition.
• Selenium supplements improve immune health. They increase the production of T cells, which are the body's natural killers of pathogens.

What Influence the Selenium Absorption in Your Body?

Usually, whatever supplements of vitamins and micronutrients you take for your health need a catalyst to boost their absorption and function. Selenium supplements also need a friend when you skip the dietary supplement and go for the pills.

• Vitamin E 
• Iron 
• Thiamin contains amino acids. 
• Good Intestinal bacteria

Conclusion

Whether you eat a cup of whole grain or take added selenium supplements, the amount of selenium in your body, especially your thyroid glands, plays an essential role in good hormone production. Thyroid health keeps your metabolism well guarded and, in turn, protects your whole body's function.

Explore more selenium-rich foods and consider professional guidance for optimising selenium levels.