Month: September 2026

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Selenium Status and Mortality

How does selenium status relate to mortality?

Higher biomarker levels of selenium status correlate significantly with lower mortality rates. This is the conclusion of a 2025 meta-analysis of 20 cohort studies. Importantly, the central finding in the meta-analysis was a consistent inverse association between selenium status and mortality [Cui, Schomburg et al 2025].

Prof Urban Alehagen, cardiologist and selenium researcher
The KiSel-10 study results show that selenium is incorporated into selenoproteins that are involved in antioxidant defense, cellular protection, immune function, redox regulation, and thyroid hormone metabolism. Consequently, low selenium status can impair several biological systems. This is the mechanism by which poor selenium status contributes to increased mortality risk.

Basically, one standard deviation increase in selenium status corresponded to the following reduction in mortality:

  • 13% lower all-cause mortality
  • 11% lower cardiovascular mortality
  • 15% lower cancer mortality

Moreover, Cui et al found low serum Selenoprotein P (SELENOP) concentrations associated with an increased risk of stroke in subjects free of cardiovascular disease and with increased risk of cardiovascular mortality among heart disease patients. The association of SELENOP concentrations with cardiovascular disease  incidence was restricted to patients with hypertension or diabetes [Cui 2025]. read more

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Selenium and Children and Cancer Treatment

Can selenium supplementation help children undergoing cancer treatment?

We need more clinical studies of the topic. However, here is what we know:

Child yawning
Selenium supplements may help to modulate inflammatory responses in pediatric oncology patients.

Children in chemotherapy often have low serum selenium status. The reasons include low dietary selenium intake, increased oxidative stress, and altered metabolism [Podpeskar 2023].

  • Optimal selenium intake is important. Antioxidant enzymes such as the glutathione peroxidases and selenoprotein P incorporate selenium. In the body, these antioxidant enzymes help protect cells from oxidative damage [Podpeskar 2023].
  • Selenium supplementation can alter the gene expression of antioxidant and inflammatory regulators in children with cancer. This suggests evidence of molecular activity even if the levels of inflammatory markers in the blood remain unchanged [Delgado 2026].
    • How can selenium supplements complement cancer treatment in children?

    Delgado et al investigated the extent to which selenium supplementation can modulate antioxidant defense mechanisms and inflammation in children and adolescents undergoing treatment for cancer. The researchers knew that children need selenium to regulate immune function and oxidative stress. read more