Selenium

What is Selenium

Selenium is an essential nonmetallic element which is chemically related to sulfur. It is found in rock, shale, sandstone, limestone, coal, soil, surface water, and vegetation.

Foods which contain significant amounts of selenium include meat, poultry, grains, and seafood. Selenium concentrations are relatively high in many of the soils of the United States, especially the western states.

Although selenium deficiency is rare in the United States, selenium deficiency has been linked to diseases such as Keshan disease, a juvenile cardiomyopathy due to very low dietary selenium intake and Kashin-Beck disease, an endemic osteoarthritis.

Low selenium body concentrations are also associated with prematurity, acute illness, and prolonged total parenteral nutrition (TPN) therapy. Symptoms of selenium deficiency include muscle weakness, myalgia, myositis, increased erythrocyte fragility, pancreatic degeneration, macrocytosis, and pseudoalbinism.

Brand Name

Selepen

Indications & Dosage

• nutritional supplementation
• prostate cancer prophylaxis
• selenium deficiency

For the prevention or treatment of selenium deficiency

Side Effects

• alopecia
• diabetes mellitus
• diarrhea
• fatigue
• halitosis
• irritability
• metallic taste
• nausea
• thrombocytopenia
• vomiting

Monitoring Parameters

• serum creatinine

Contraindications

• benzyl alcohol hypersensitivity
• breast-feeding
• diabetes mellitus
• GI disease
• intravenous administration
• neonates
• pregnancy
• premature neonates
• renal impairment

Interactions

There are no drug interactions associated with Selenium products.