Selenium and diabetes – more confusion than answers. Some studies strongly favor selenium as a supplement to reduce the risk of diabetes, and the next study says that it increases the risk of diabetes. This French study shows that selenium only helps men avoid diabetes and related health problems. Another study, in the same article, at the State University of New York states that selenium supplements increases the risk of diabetes and cancer.
A WebMD article from 2007 relies on the same State University of New York, but editorializes that obesity may be the cause of the adverse results.
Another article from Scientific American is very critical of the use of selenium because the soils in the US have high levels in them and most people are already at the suggested levels. It was determined by unnamed researchers (maybe the centers for disease control) that selenium was found in excess in people with diabetes and then they say that selenium supplements should not be given out until more research is completes to know the effects of selenium for diabetes and cancer.
The recommended dietary allowance for selenium is 55 micrograms per day for adults, and most Americans reach that with diet alone. The FDA warns that the daily intake should not exceed 400 micrograms. The FDA recalled two popular dietary supplements last year that contained more than 40,000 micrograms, an amount that is considered toxic.
The article states that selenium may be needed in some areas of Europe and China, but for the most part, the US population does not need this in their supplements. I used to take a selenium supplement, but stopped in 2002. Now I find that my Senior Supplement contains the 55 mg of selenium as do most supplements sold today. The jury is still out on selenium and there may or may not be any benefits to taking selenium.
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