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When does selenium deficiency occur?

While rare, selenium deficiency in humans is fairly rare in the United States. However, in other countries where soil concentration is low deficiency can occur — like China. There is some evidence that exists and shows that a deficiency in selenium can contribute to a form of heart disease, as well as hypothyroidism and a weak immune system.

Evidence also exists that shows a deficiency in selenium doesn’t actually cause illness by itself. What a deficiency does is makes your body more susceptible to illnesses caused by biochemical, nutritional, or infectious stresses.

There have been three particular diseases associated with a deficiency in selenium. This includes Keshan disease, which in turn results in a large heart with poor function in children. There is also Kashin-Bek Disease, which results in osteoarthropathy and myxedematous endemic cretinism, which causes mental retardation.

Keshan disease is seen in large areas of China country, where selenium is rare. Dietary intake in these areas are way below normal and researchers believe that people inflicted with a specific virus are more than likely going to develop a form one or many of the symptoms of Keshan disease.

Deficiency in selenium has also been found in those individual that rely on total parenteral nutrition as the primary source of their nutrition. Total parenteral nutrition, or TPN, is known as a way of feeding nutrients through an IV to people that have non-functioning digestive systems. This is why it is highly important for TPN solutions to provide selenium in an attempt to prevent deficiency.

In addition, many severe gastrointestinal disorders have the ability to decrease the absorption of selenium, which results in a depletion or deficiency in selenium. These gastrointestinal problems not only effect selenium, but other nutrients as well.

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