Reducing Fatigue
The symptoms of fatigue may be
directly Cellular based.
As Selenium is essential for the proper function of Mitochondrion, and
these cells have been termed “the body’s energy factory”, any impairment
of mitochondrial activity leads to lassitude.
While any beneficial effect of Selenium depends on the cause of the fatigue, and the level of Selenium deficit, with a simple improvement in mitochondrial activity, body energy levels are also improved.
However, very often, lassitude
is linked to several influencing factors.
For example:
If Selenium levels are low, and fatigue is due to thyroid problems, then
there is strong evidence to suggest that, because Selenium is essential
to thyroid hormone regulation, an improvement in thyroid function will
also improve energy levels.
If Selenium levels are low, and fatigue is caused by a bout of
influenza, then additional Selenium would be expected to help develop
the function of their immune system to ward off the next bout of the
flu, but the Selenium probably would not be absorbed and processed by
the body in time to assist recovery from this infection.
Mineral normalising effect
Evidence is accumulating for important interactions of Se with various
other minerals in the body, including zinc, copper, iron and manganese.
An intriguing role for Se in regulating or normalising the levels of
other mineral nutrients at key sites in the body has been suggested by
several studies. A clinical trial in Serbia included people who were
moderately deficient at baseline in Se, zinc, iron and copper, with
manganese level higher than normal. Those people supplemented with
Se-enriched wheat showed increased concentrations of zinc, iron and
copper in red blood cells, while manganese concentration declined in
both red blood cells and plasma (Djujic et al, 2000). There were no
changes in those who consumed low-Se wheat.
Furthermore, interaction between Se and iron was apparent in a clinical trial. Lower serum Se levels were observed in children with iron-deficiency anaemia, but Se was normalised after iron supplementation (Yetkin et al, 1992). Further Se/iron interaction was observed in a trial with Schistosoma-infected mice, in which supplemented Se lowered abnormally high liver Fe level (Farrag, 1999).
Detoxification of heavy
metals
Se is a well-known detoxifier of
toxic metallic pollutants. It has a high affinity for toxic metals such
as cadmium and mercury, and for the metalloid arsenic, binding with them
and rendering them harmless. This effect can be enhanced by vitamin E
(Frost, 1981). In the case of cadmium and mercury, detoxification is
achieved through the diversion in their binding from low- to
high-molecular-weight proteins (Whanger, 1992). This deactivating
effect of Se on carcinogenic toxic metals like cadmium is one of the
mechanisms for Se’s anti-cancer effect
[link to Anti-cancer page]
Djujic I, Jozanov-Stankov O, Djermanovi V, Demajo M, Bosni O 2000. Availability of essential trace elements and their interactions in blood of humans consuming Se enriched wheat. Poster abstract from “Selenium 2000”, Venice, October 1-5, 2000. Available at www-tiresias.bio.unipd.it/HomeSele/postlist.htm
Farrag EK 1999. Interaction between supplemented selenium and/or vitamin E and manganese, zinc, iron, and copper in Schistosoma infected mice. J Egypt Soc Parasitol 29(2): 517-529.
Frost DV 1981. Selenium and vitamin E as antidotes to heavy metal toxicities. In Selenium in Biology and Medicine. [JE Spallholz, JL Martin and HE Ganther, editors]. Westport, CT: AVI Publishing.
Whanger PD 1992. Selenium in the treatment of heavy metal poisoning and chemical carcinogenesis. J Trace Elem Electrol Health Dis 6(4): 209-221.
Yetkin S, Hincal F, Basaran N, Ciliv G. 1992. Serum selenium status in children with iron deficiency anemia. Acta Haematol 88: 185-188.
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E-mail: bread@laucke.com.au
Phone: (08) 8536 5555
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