About selenium status in the elderly, not much is known. Therefore, data from the recently published Newcastle 85+ study are of interest. The researchers assessed the selenium status of 85-year-olds living in the Northeast of England. They measured serum selenium concentrations, selenoprotein P (SELENOP) concentrations, and glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPx3) activity levels [Perri 2024 Mar].
Data from nearly 800 men and women from the Northeast of England 85 years old or older show that elderly individuals have too little selenium intake in their diets.
In addition, the researchers studied the relationships between each of those three biomarkers of selenium status. They observed that there was a linear relationship between serum selenium and serum SELENOP concentrations. On the other hand, they found nonlinear relationships between serum selenium levels and GPx3 activity and between serum SELENOP levels and GPx3 activity [Perri 2024 Mar].read more
Selenium is an essential trace element for good health. If we are to survive and reproduce, we need some selenium in our diets. Not much but some. The reason is that our bodies cannot synthesize the selenium we need. Many of us live in a region of the world with low selenium content in the soil and in the regionally grown food products. Accordingly, it is difficult for us to get enough selenium in our diet.
Dr. Jan Alexander (M.D., Ph.D.) is co-author on several KiSel-10 studies and co-author of the selenium scoping review for the 2023 Nordic Nutrition Recommendations.
For example, Alexander et al point out that mainland Europe and Scandinavia are regions with a low intake of selenium. North America, by contrast, is a region with much higher selenium intake. There is considerable variation in the selenium content of locally cultivated food products around the world. Consequently, daily selenium intake varies considerably. Depending upon the region we live in, we may be at risk of sub-optimal selenium intakes or selenium deficiency [Alexander 2024].read more
Many elderly adults have low serum selenium concentrations. This is especially true in the United Kingdom and much of Europe and the Middle East [Stoffaneller & Morse 2015]. Now, a published report shows that over 80 % of the 85-year-old adults in a study in northeastern England had suboptimal serum selenium and selenoprotein P concentrations. Over 40 % had deficient selenium status, judged by reference values derived from studies of healthy adults in all age categories [Perri 2024].
Elderly study participants in England, men especially, were found to have suboptimal (80%) or deficient (40%) serum levels of selenium.
Suboptimal serum selenium status was defined as 70 mcg/L or lower. Serum selenium deficiency was defined as 45 mcg/L or lower.
The researchers observed a linear association between serum selenium levels and serum selenoprotein P (SELENOP) levels. SELENOP is the primary transport protein carrying selenium from the blood to the peripheral tissues. The findings in this study indicate that most study participants had suboptimal selenium intakes and status. Their diets were not sufficient to saturate the level of circulating SELENOP [Perri 2024].read more
In senior citizens, and delayed aging and longevity are associated with the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection derived from daily supplementation with selenium and Coenzyme Q10 [Alehagen 2023].
Daily supplementation with selenium and Coenzyme Q10 seems to have a positive influence on longevity and delayed aging.
The KiSel-10 Study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of the effect of combined selenium and CoQ10 supplementation of senior citizens on cardiovascular mortality.
Researchers administered 200 micrograms of selenium in a selenium-rich yeast preparation and 200 milligrams of Coenzyme Q10 in the ubiquinone form or matching placebos to community living senior citizens daily for 48 months [Alehagen 2013].
Summary of Statistically Significant KiSel-10 Study Outcomes
reduction of cardiovascular mortality in the active treatment group vs. the placebo group (5.9% vs. 12.6%) and better cardiac function observed on echocardiograms in the active supplementation group compared to the placebo group [Alehagen 2013]
reduction of plasma levels of the N-terminal natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), a bio-marker for increased risk of heart failure [Johansson 2013]
improvement of health-related quality of life and fewer days in hospital [Johansson 2015]
reduction of cardiovascular mortality in senior citizens with low serum selenium status [Alehagen 2016a; Alehagen 2016b]
reduction of cardiovascular mortality that persisted after 10 and 12 years in the supplemented group and in subgroups with diabetes, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and reduced functional capacity due to impaired cardiac function [Alehagen 2015a; Alehagen 2018]
reduction of plasma levels of two bio-markers for oxidative damage [Alehagen 2015c]
reduction of plasma levels of six bio-markers for systemic inflammation [Alehagen 2015b; Alehagen 2019b]
reduction of serum levels of seven bio-markers for fibrosis [Alehagen 2017b]
reduction of plasma levels of bio-markers for endothelial dysfunction [Alehagen 2020c]
increase in plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor-1, attenuating an age-related decline in IGF-1 concentrations [Alehagen 2017a]
reduction of fructosamine concentration compared with the concentration in the placebo group, which tended to increase, important because fructosamine concentration is positively associated with incidence of diabetes and increased blood glucose level [Alehagen 2020b]
improvement of renal function in elderly citizens deficient in selenium [Alehagen 2020a]
prevention of an increase in D-dimer levels, which are associated with increased risk of thrombotic disorders [Alehagen 2021]
association with significant changes in metabolic profiles and with significant changes in the pentose phosphate, the mevalonate, the beta-oxidation, and the xanthine oxidase pathways [Alehagen 2019a]
association with significant changes in circulating microRNA [Alehagen 2017c]
structural equation modelling that shows that antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects are the primary underlying biological mechanisms to explain the success of the KiSel-10 study [Alehagen 2022b]
decrease in concentrations of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) [Alehagen 2022a]
improvement in serum free thiol levels, supporting a reduction in systemic oxidative stress [Dunning 2023]
positive effects on five age-related blood biomarkers – ICAM-1, adiponectin, leptin, stem cell factor, and osteoprotegerin – indicating an anti-aging direction compared to placebo [Alehagen 2023].
Conclusion: Delayed aging and longevity associated with Selenium and Coenzyme Q10 for senior citizens
Professor Urban Alehagen and Professor Jan Aaseth have explained an important biological interrelationship between selenium and Coenzyme Q10 and pointed to a theoretical advantage in using both substances in an intervention if there are deficiencies within the population [Alehagen 2015d].read more
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