What are the side effects of eating too much selenium?

What are the side effects of eating too much selenium?

In recent years, with the improvement of health awareness, selenium, as an important trace element, has attracted much attention. However, excessive selenium intake may pose a range of health risks. This article will combine the hot topics and hot content on the Internet in the past 10 days to discuss in detail the side effects of excessive selenium intake, and provide structured data for readers' reference.

1. The role and recommended intake of selenium

Selenium is an essential trace element for the human body and has antioxidant, immune-enhancing, and cardiovascular protection functions. The following are the recommended daily intakes of selenium for different groups of people:

2. Side Effects of Excessive Intake of Selenium

Excessive intake of selenium (usually more than 400 micrograms per day) can lead to the following health problems:

1. Acute selenium poisoning

Ingesting large amounts of selenium (more than 1,000 micrograms) in a short period of time may cause acute poisoning. Symptoms include:

• Nausea, vomiting
• Diarrhea
• headache
• difficulty breathing

2. Chronic Selenium Poisoning

Long-term excessive intake of selenium may lead to chronic poisoning, manifested as:

• Hair loss, nail deformation
• Skin lesions (such as rashes, blisters)
• Nervous system abnormalities (such as numbness, convulsions)
• abnormal liver function

3. Other potential risks

Research shows that excess selenium may also increase the risk of:

• type 2 diabetes
• certain cancers (such as prostate cancer)
• cardiovascular disease

3. Common foods high in selenium and their selenium content

Knowing how much selenium is in your food can help you control your intake. The following are common high-selenium foods and their selenium content:

4. How to avoid selenium overdose

To avoid excessive selenium intake, the following measures are recommended:

• Eat Brazil nuts sparingly (no more than 1-2 per day)
• Avoid eating large amounts of seafood for long periods of time
• Use selenium supplements with caution
• Regularly check blood selenium levels (especially in high-risk groups)

5. Precautions for special groups of people

Certain groups of people need to pay special attention to their selenium intake:

• Pregnant women:Excess selenium may affect fetal development
• People with thyroid disease:Selenium is closely related to thyroid function
• Cancer patients:Selenium supplementation is required under the guidance of a doctor

Conclusion

Although selenium is an essential trace element for the human body, excessive intake may cause serious health risks. The problem of excessive selenium can be avoided by eating a reasonable diet and controlling the intake of foods high in selenium. It is recommended to consult a professional doctor or nutritionist before supplementing with selenium, especially for special groups of people.

Note: The data in this article combines recent research results published by authoritative medical journals and health institutions, and is intended to provide scientific reference information.