Can selenium supplementation increase immunity? How to determine whether selenium supplementation is needed?

Recently, the new coronavirus has been raging. Many experts have called on everyone to improve their immunity to resist the virus. Some people say that supplementing with selenium can improve immunity. Selenium plays many positive roles in human health, but it should not be "blindly supplemented in large quantities." Let's take a look at the article to find out!

Can selenium supplementation increase immunity?

Selenium was discovered by a Swedish chemist in 1818, but it was not until 1957 that it was found to be one of the essential trace elements for our human body. However, it is not an element that can be supplemented casually!

Selenium does have an effect on our immunity, which is mainly related to selenoprotein. Selenoprotein is necessary for activated T cells to function. T cells lacking selenoprotein cannot inhibit the production of reactive oxygen, so these T cells cannot reproduce after their cells are stimulated. Moreover, if the ability of individual selenoprotein synthesis is reduced, these individuals will have fewer lymphocytes, so selenoprotein is very important for a person to establish an effective immune response!

How to determine the need for selenium supplementation

Whether a person needs to supplement selenium depends on the selenium content in the soil and diet of different regions. A blood test is needed to check the blood selenium level to determine whether or not it is necessary to supplement and how much to supplement! But basically, it can be supplemented appropriately through diet and selenium-containing salt. Healthy people do not need to take specific drugs to supplement!

Can I take medicine to supplement selenium?

Even though selenium plays many positive roles in human health, it should not be supplemented blindly. Fundamentally speaking, our bodies do not have organs that can store selenium for a long time, so we need to continuously supplement the selenium needed for metabolism through diet. Many people do not pay much attention to supplementing selenium in their daily lives, especially those in selenium-deficient areas. It is best to focus on supplementing selenium. You can get more selenium from konjac, garlic, and seafood.

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"Sufficient intake of selenium" does help to resist external viral attacks, but the body's needs can be met by daily rich food, and there is no need to deliberately supplement with selenium-rich products. Please look at it objectively, eat scientifically, and don't cause trouble to your body.