What happens if you have too little selenium in your body?

How do I increase my selenium level?

Molly Lopinski.

Posted on February 10, 2023. Selenium has become a popular nutritional supplement for boosting immune function, fighting off cancer and protecting the heart and other organs. Selenium also increases the detoxification of free radicals, which could protect us from environmental pollutants that are suspected of causing breast, prostate, cervical and other types of cancers as well as cardiovascular disease.

But many people wonder how they can increase their own levels of this essential trace mineral. Selenium works best as a mineral supplement, experts say. It also works well as antioxidant nutrient, which makes it especially beneficial in cancer prevention. But a common fear is that getting too much selenium may raise the risk of cancer; others worry about toxicity of even relatively low amounts. If a patient's cancer cells are being treated with chemotherapy, any benefit from selenium may disappear, as some studies indicate that selenium increases the toxicity of such drugs. If you do take selenium, use the lowest dose possible.

What does selenium do? The human body uses selenium to build proteins and enzymes that prevent or treat cancer. Other nutrients have shown similar benefits as selenium, but these nutrients usually come in pill form, whereas selenium may need to be taken as a dietary supplement.

Selenium has been found to: Protect against cancer. Protect DNA from oxidative damage. Prevent and slow the growth of some breast and colon cancers. Reduce some side effects of chemotherapy. Protect your thyroid glands. Lower the incidence of pre-diabetes and obesity. Reduce inflammation. Increase energy levels. Lower high blood pressure. Selenium supplements in various forms - tablets, powder and liquid drops - typically come from Brazil and China. They are commonly sold in health food stores and the Internet. Some types of selenium are more bioavailable than others and many are found in more affordable doses, ranging from 25 to 100 mcg daily (the recommended intake is 55 mcg daily).

Dosages depend on the form of selenium you choose.