Tag: Heart failure

Posted on

Selenium and Heart Failure

Heart failure is a condition in which the heart no longer performs as well as it should. It affects millions of people in the United States and Europe. Heart failure is characterized by the following symptoms:

• shortness of breath
• build-up of congestion in the lungs
• accumulation of fluid in the lower extremities

What do we know about selenium status and the risk of heart failure?

Prof Urban Alehagen selenium and heart disease researcher
Prof Urban Alehagen’s KiSel-10 studies and sub-analyses have shown that selenium supplementation of elderly citizens low in selenium reduces the risk of heart disease mortality.

Low serum selenium levels are associated with increased risk of heart failure [Al-Mubarak 2021; Bomer 2020].

  • Selenium status below 70 mcg/L is regarded as selenium deficiency status [Al-Mubarak 2021; Bomer 2020].
  • Selenium status below 100 mcg/L is regarded as suboptimal status [Al-Mubarak 2021; Bomer 2020].
  • Both selenium deficiency and suboptimal selenium status are associated with increased risk of cellular dysfunction, oxidative stress, and chronic low-grade inflammation [Al-Mubarak 2021; Bomer 2020].

    • What do we know about selenium supplementation and heart failure?

    • Selenium supplementation of individuals with low selenium status may improve heart function and may reduce the need for hospitalization [Alehagen 2022].
    • Selenium supplementation of individuals with low selenium status may reduce the oxidative stress and systemic inflammation that increase the risk of heart failure [Alehagen 2022].

    Selenium and the Risk of Cardiomyopathy

    Myocardium is the medical term for the heart muscle. Cardiomyopathy is a disease or disorder of the heart muscle, often of unknown cause. Keshan disease is a form of cardiomyopathy that develops as a result of selenium deficiency and exposure to a strain of the coxsackievirus. The disease takes its name from Keshan County in northeastern China Its symptoms were first observed there. Keshan disease can result in heart failure [Zhou 2018]. read more

    Posted on

    Selenium and Heart Disease

    Heart disease. The evidence from clinical studies is increasing. Selenium deficiency is associated with an increased risk of heart trouble [Bomer 2020]. Selenium supplementation of elderly individuals who have low selenium status is associated with improved survival, improved heart function, and improved quality of life [Alehagen 2013].

    Map of Europe
    Selenium intakes and selenium status in countries in northern Europe are generally quite low. Consequently, clinical trials conducted in northern Europe tend to be more valuable than clinical trials conducted in the USA where dietary selenium intakes are considerably higher for the most part.

    Especially in northern Europe, clinical studies show the relationship between the need for selenium and the risk of heart disease. This makes sense because the dietary selenium intake in northern Europe is considerably lower than the dietary selenium intake in much of the United States. Consequently, the mean plasma selenium concentrations in Europe tend to be well below 80–90 mcg/L. In the USA, on the other hand, the mean plasma selenium concentrations are generally above 120 mcg/L [Alehagen 2022]. read more

    Posted on

    Heart Failure Risk and Selenium Deficiency

    Low plasma selenoprotein P levels are associated with a higher risk of heart failure in a Swedish population [Jujic 2023].

    Heart rate
    Selenium deficiency in heart failure patients is significantly associated with increased risk of cardiovascular mortality, impaired exercise capacity, and poorer quality of life [Bomer 2020].
    Selenoprotein P is the primary protein transporter of selenium in the blood.

    Plasma and serum selenoprotein P concentrations are useful biomarkers of selenium status in individuals with relatively low selenium intakes because selenoprotein P responds to different intake forms of selenium [Hurst 2010].

    Selenium deficiency – defined as serum selenium concentrations below 70 mcg/L – has been associated with more severe symptoms of heart failure, poorer exercise capacity, and poorer quality of life. Sub-optimal serum selenium concentrations of 70–100 mcg/L have similar adverse associations, suggesting that values less than 100 mcg/L, might be considered abnormal [Bomer 2020]. read more

    Posted on

    Selenium Exposure Studies

    Selenium exposure in the diet and in supplements: in this review article, we summarize the key outcomes of the best selenium exposure studies.

    Optimal Selenium Intake and Status

    In his review of the available research literature, Professor Urban Alehagen, Linköping University, Sweden, concluded that a daily intake of 100–150 mcg of selenium per day is required.

    This is the intake level that enables an optimal expression of the important selenoprotein P that transports selenium from the liver to peripheral tissues [Alehagen 2022].  For other selenoproteins to be optimized, i.e., to be fully expressed, Prof. Alehagen argues that selenium status of approximately 120 mcg/L when measured in red blood cells is necessary [Alehagen 2022]. read more

    Posted on

    Selenium Deficiency and Heart Failure

    Heart failure – the inability of the heart muscle to pump a sufficient quantity of blood out to the body – is a debilitating disease, resulting in shortness of breath, congestion in the lungs, and pooling of blood in the lower extremities. Heart failure is equivalent to diminished quality of life.

    Mitochondrion
    Depiction of a mitochondrion. The mitochondria in our cells convert energy sources such as fatty acids, glucose, and ketones into ATP energy molecules. Sufficient intakes of micronutrients such as selenium, Coenzyme Q10, and zinc are important for mitochondrial energy production and for antioxidant protection of cells, lipids, proteins, and DNA.

    The prognosis for heart failure is poor, and the available medical therapies for patients with heart failure are inadequate. New treatment strategies are needed [Mortensen 2015].

    Yin et al have analyzed the data from 39,757 adults in a cross-sectional study from the 2005–2018 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Their findings suggest that high levels of combined dietary antioxidant micronutrients are associated with decreased prevalence of various forms of cardiovascular disease and that selenium has the greatest contribution to this association [Yin 2022]. read more