What are the health benefits of taking selenium?

7 Science-Based Health Benefits of Selenium

  • Acts as a powerful antioxidant. Share on Pinterest.
  • May reduce your risk of certain cancers.
  • May protect against heart disease.
  • Helps prevent mental decline.
  • Is important for thyroid health.
  • Boosts your immune system.
  • May help reduce asthma symptoms.

What does selenium and zinc do for the body?

Zinc plays roles in immune function, protein synthesis, cell division and wound healing. In addition, zinc is important for normal growth and development during childhood and pregnancy. Selenium is important for reproduction, thyroid function, DNA synthesis, and protecting the body from oxidative damage and infection.

Can humans take selenium?

When taken by mouth: Selenium is likely safe when taken in doses less than 400 mcg daily, short-term. But selenium is possibly unsafe when taken in high doses or for a long time. Taking doses above 400 mcg daily can increase the risk of developing selenium toxicity.

Can you mix selenium and zinc together?

Zinc and selenium work great together, working with what is known in biology as a synergistic effect. The synergistic effect is when the interaction between chemical substances cause an effect that is greater than the sum of the individual effect of any of the substances.

What time of day is best to take selenium?

When taking selenium, it does not matter at what time of day selenium is taken. However, if you have problems with your stomach, you should take selenium in combination with a meal.

What food is high in selenium?

Selenium and Healthful Diets

  • Many whole grains and dairy products, including milk and yogurt, are good sources of selenium.
  • Pork, beef, turkey, chicken, fish, shellfish, and eggs contain high amounts of selenium.

What is better zinc or selenium?

Selenium is an essential trace element that possesses several functions in many cellular processes for cancer prevention. Meanwhile, zinc may have protective effects on tumor initiation and progression, and it is an essential cofactor of several mammalian proteins.

Does zinc help with hair thinning?

Zinc plays an important role in hair tissue growth and repair. It also helps keep the oil glands around the follicles working properly. Hair loss is a common symptom of zinc deficiency ( 13 , 14 ). Studies show resolving zinc deficiency with supplementation may reduce deficiency-related hair loss( 15 , 16 ).

What is the symptoms of low zinc?

Zinc deficiency is characterized by growth retardation, loss of appetite, and impaired immune function. In more severe cases, zinc deficiency causes hair loss, diarrhea, delayed sexual maturation, impotence, hypogonadism in males, and eye and skin lesions [2,8,25,26].